Poems By William Walsham How ... New and Enlarged Edition |
 |
On the Reopening of Owston Church,
Leicestershire.
|
 |
|
 | Poems |  |
65
On the Reopening of Owston Church, Leicestershire.
See the Church her head once more hath lifted;
Seemly order dwells within her gate;
God-sent art adorns her holy precincts,
And no more she lieth desolate.
Seemly order dwells within her gate;
God-sent art adorns her holy precincts,
And no more she lieth desolate.
What is it that she is saying, brothers?
All the subtle skill of graver's hand,
All the heavenward shafts, and bended arches,
Utter speech to those that understand.
All the subtle skill of graver's hand,
All the heavenward shafts, and bended arches,
Utter speech to those that understand.
You can hear them telling some things loudly,
Telling of ungrudging love and care;—
But I catch an inner voice that pleadeth
Soft and sweet, like music in the air.
Telling of ungrudging love and care;—
But I catch an inner voice that pleadeth
Soft and sweet, like music in the air.
And it saith, from every wreathèd column,
Every leafy carving, breathing low,—
‘Take our message, O ye living temples,
‘Fold it in your hearts before ye go.
Every leafy carving, breathing low,—
‘Take our message, O ye living temples,
‘Fold it in your hearts before ye go.
66
‘Purge the shrine of your own souls within you
‘From all stain of pride and sloth and sin,
‘Grace it with all saintly decoration,—
‘Then your God shall come and dwell within.’
‘From all stain of pride and sloth and sin,
‘Grace it with all saintly decoration,—
‘Then your God shall come and dwell within.’
(1861.)
| Poems | |