The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott Edited by his Son Edwin Elliott ... A New and Revised Edition: Two Volumes |
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 | The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott |  |
A SHADOW.
A poor affrighted worm,Where sky and mountain meet,
I stood before the storm,
And heard his strong heart beat.
He drew his black brows down—
My knees each other smote:
The mountains felt his frown,
His dark unutter'd thought
The mountains, at his scowl,
Pray'd mutely to the skies:
He spoke, and shook my soul;
He scorch'd me with his eyes.
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I stood the storm before:
No! God, the Storm, and I—
We trode the desert floor;
High on the mountain sod,
The whirlwind's dwellingplace,
The Worm, the Storm, and God
Were present, face to face.
From earth a shadow brake,
E'en where my feet had trode;
The shadow laugh'd and spake
And shook his hand at God.
Then up it rear'd its head,
Beneath the lightning's blaze;
“Omnipotent!” it said,
“Bring back my yesterdays.”
God smiled the gloom away;
Wide earth and heav'n were bright;
In light my shadow lay,
I stood with God in light;
With Him who wings the storm,
Or bids the storm be still,
The shadow of a worm
Held converse on the hill.
| The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott | |