 | Poems by Henry Septimus Sutton |  |
208
THE SIGHT OF GOD
The pearl, the amethyst, the gold, which shone
The stately creature's breast so bright upon,
No brilliance lent to her; for she was decked,
I saw, to far more glorious effect
In that life-light she seem'd half to reflect,
The stately creature's breast so bright upon,
No brilliance lent to her; for she was decked,
I saw, to far more glorious effect
In that life-light she seem'd half to reflect,
Half radiate, from her presence; the soft flow
Of breath, and beat of vital pulse, the show
Of growth unflawed, symmetric, and the glow
Of health resplendent, which I must have been
Most dull, if them unthankful I had seen.
Of breath, and beat of vital pulse, the show
Of growth unflawed, symmetric, and the glow
Of health resplendent, which I must have been
Most dull, if them unthankful I had seen.
But then, with what intenser wonder-gaze
I looked upon her face, beheld the blaze
Of light intelligent, observed the streak
And flush of fresh emotion on her cheek,
And saw her soul in every movement speak!
I looked upon her face, beheld the blaze
Of light intelligent, observed the streak
And flush of fresh emotion on her cheek,
And saw her soul in every movement speak!
209
The more I looked, the more and more amazed
The marvel made me whereupon I gazed;
But when I marked the love of God arise
In prayer and pureness in her mien and eyes,
And in her hands His faithful charities,
The marvel made me whereupon I gazed;
But when I marked the love of God arise
In prayer and pureness in her mien and eyes,
And in her hands His faithful charities,
Then said I: ‘Lord! Though I, 'mongst atheists driven,
Walked through their death-shade vale, Thy staff and rod
Would me console, since here is Thine abode;
This is none other than a house of God;
This is indeed a very gate of heaven!’
Walked through their death-shade vale, Thy staff and rod
Would me console, since here is Thine abode;
This is none other than a house of God;
This is indeed a very gate of heaven!’
And yet what can the outward vision see
But symbols mere, which far below Him fall?
Only in His Divine Humanity,
High over every creature, are we free
To see in very truth the Lord of all.
But symbols mere, which far below Him fall?
Only in His Divine Humanity,
High over every creature, are we free
To see in very truth the Lord of all.
| Poems by Henry Septimus Sutton | |