 | The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan |  |
GOD EVOLVING.
Turn from that mirage of a God on high
Holding the sceptre of a creed outworn,
And hearken to the faint half-human cry
Of Nature quickening with the God unborn!
Holding the sceptre of a creed outworn,
And hearken to the faint half-human cry
Of Nature quickening with the God unborn!
The God unborn, the God that is to be,
The God that has not been since Time began,—
Hark,—that low sound of Nature's agony
Echoed thro' life and the hard heart of Man!
The God that has not been since Time began,—
Hark,—that low sound of Nature's agony
Echoed thro' life and the hard heart of Man!
Fed with the blood and tears of living things,
Nourish'd and strengthen'd by Creation's woes,
The God unborn, that shall be King of Kings,
Sown in the darkness, thro' the darkness grows.
Nourish'd and strengthen'd by Creation's woes,
The God unborn, that shall be King of Kings,
Sown in the darkness, thro' the darkness grows.
Alas, the long slow travail and the pain
Of her who bears him in her mighty womb!
How long ere he shall live and breathe and reign,
While yonder Phantom fades to give him room?
Of her who bears him in her mighty womb!
How long ere he shall live and breathe and reign,
While yonder Phantom fades to give him room?
Where'er great pity is and piteousness,
Where'er great Love and Love's strange sorrow stay,
Where'er men cease to curse, but bend to bless,
Frail brethren fashion'd like themselves of clay;
Where'er great Love and Love's strange sorrow stay,
Where'er men cease to curse, but bend to bless,
Frail brethren fashion'd like themselves of clay;
Where'er the lamb and lion side by side
Lie down in peace, where'er on land or sea
Infinite Love and Mercy heavenly-eyed
Emerge, there stirs the God that is to be!
Lie down in peace, where'er on land or sea
Infinite Love and Mercy heavenly-eyed
Emerge, there stirs the God that is to be!
His light is round the slaughter'd bird and beast
As round the forehead of Man crucified,—
All things that live, the greatest and the least,
Await the coming of this Lord and Guide;
As round the forehead of Man crucified,—
All things that live, the greatest and the least,
Await the coming of this Lord and Guide;
And every gentle deed by mortals done,
Yea, every holy thought and loving breath,
Lighten poor Nature's travail with this Son
Who shall be Lord and God of Life and Death!
Yea, every holy thought and loving breath,
Lighten poor Nature's travail with this Son
Who shall be Lord and God of Life and Death!
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No God behind us in the empty Vast,
No God enthroned on yonder heights above,
But God emerging, and evolved at last
Out of the inmost heart of human Love!
No God enthroned on yonder heights above,
But God emerging, and evolved at last
Out of the inmost heart of human Love!
Wound Love, thou woundest, too, this God unborn!
Of Love and Love's compassion is he bred!
His strength the grace that holds no thing in scorn,
His very blood the tears by Pity shed!
Of Love and Love's compassion is he bred!
His strength the grace that holds no thing in scorn,
His very blood the tears by Pity shed!
And every cruel thought or deed on earth,
Yea, even blood-sacrifice on bended knee,
Lengthens the travail and delays the birth
Of this our God, the God that is to be!
Yea, even blood-sacrifice on bended knee,
Lengthens the travail and delays the birth
Of this our God, the God that is to be!
| The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan | |