 | Diana's Looking Glass and Other Poems by Charles D. Bell |  |
48
REFLECTIONS.
I.
[I stood beside a sheltered, tranquil lake]
I stood beside a sheltered, tranquil lake,
When earth wore all the holy hush and calm
That in a temple follow prayer and psalm.
Nature kept Sabbath: not a breath did shake
A leaf, or branch, or dew-drop in the brake,
And as I gazed into the waters sweet,
All heaven seemed lying at my very feet.
And winds were still and every air was balm—
When earth wore all the holy hush and calm
That in a temple follow prayer and psalm.
Nature kept Sabbath: not a breath did shake
A leaf, or branch, or dew-drop in the brake,
And as I gazed into the waters sweet,
All heaven seemed lying at my very feet.
And winds were still and every air was balm—
Far in the depths, translucent, pure and clear,
Unruffled even by a ripple's flow,
Were glassed the stars that in the azure sphere
With silver fires made all the skies aglow.
And yearned I then that, as within that mere,
High heaven were mirror'd in my heart below.
Unruffled even by a ripple's flow,
Were glassed the stars that in the azure sphere
With silver fires made all the skies aglow.
And yearned I then that, as within that mere,
High heaven were mirror'd in my heart below.
49
II.
[I would that heaven were mirror'd in my heart]
I would that heaven were mirror'd in my heart,
Distinct, defined, as in this tranquil lake,
Which each reflection is so quick to take
That here it sleeps, the sky's true counterpart,
With not a cloudlet passing it athwart.
See, in its depths a thousand glories shine,
Flooded and fulgent with a light divine.
Ah, would that I were only as thou art,
Distinct, defined, as in this tranquil lake,
Which each reflection is so quick to take
That here it sleeps, the sky's true counterpart,
With not a cloudlet passing it athwart.
See, in its depths a thousand glories shine,
Flooded and fulgent with a light divine.
Ah, would that I were only as thou art,
Thou mirror, radiant with celestial sheen!
Thou glass, to image forth that world on high
Which o'er me in its tender grace doth lean,
Clad in a fair and stainless purity!
O God, that heaven in me were clearly seen,
As yonder stars within this wave serene!
Thou glass, to image forth that world on high
Which o'er me in its tender grace doth lean,
Clad in a fair and stainless purity!
O God, that heaven in me were clearly seen,
As yonder stars within this wave serene!
| Diana's Looking Glass and Other Poems by Charles D. Bell | |