Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
 |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
|
| IV. |
| V. |
|
FALLING UP. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
268
FALLING UP.
I lost my hopeless idle hold at length from little care,
For pride had made me over-bold and slew me unaware;
While, as I fell, a funeral-bell
Bade me for death prepare.
Earth swam before my swooning eyes, Time seemed itself to pass
With all the pageants of the skies like pictures in a glass;
A burning scroll, my very soul
Shrank up as shrivelled grass.
For pride had made me over-bold and slew me unaware;
While, as I fell, a funeral-bell
Bade me for death prepare.
Earth swam before my swooning eyes, Time seemed itself to pass
With all the pageants of the skies like pictures in a glass;
A burning scroll, my very soul
Shrank up as shrivelled grass.
Sin's gloomy garment wrapt me round, as deeper still I went
Beyond the plummet's utmost bound, in its gray cerement;
With friends most dear, in ghastly fear
Dragged low by my descent.
For when I dropt in coward dread, to save myself I threw
These arms in selfish haste outspread on lives that blameless grew;
And I the love, that bloomed above,
To one grim ruin drew.
Beyond the plummet's utmost bound, in its gray cerement;
With friends most dear, in ghastly fear
Dragged low by my descent.
For when I dropt in coward dread, to save myself I threw
These arms in selfish haste outspread on lives that blameless grew;
And I the love, that bloomed above,
To one grim ruin drew.
But in the horror of my fall, unconscious, yet I prayed
With penitence that even through all my darkest deeds had stayed;
A broken cry of agony,
That would not be delayed.
A call for mercy and of grief shot heavenward as a dart,
Which in mere utterance was relief and more than human art;
A simple sigh, that mounted high,
Torn from my bleeding heart.
With penitence that even through all my darkest deeds had stayed;
A broken cry of agony,
That would not be delayed.
A call for mercy and of grief shot heavenward as a dart,
Which in mere utterance was relief and more than human art;
A simple sigh, that mounted high,
Torn from my bleeding heart.
And in a moment then I found I was not sinking fast,
But risen and to a purer ground beyond the stormy blast;
And the blue sky laughed pleasantly,
Which had been overcast.
For when I dashed the golden cup of poison from my grip,
I was forgiven and falling up that I might never slip;
While, swift to greet me, Mercy sweet
Laid kisses on my lip.
But risen and to a purer ground beyond the stormy blast;
269
Which had been overcast.
For when I dashed the golden cup of poison from my grip,
I was forgiven and falling up that I might never slip;
While, swift to greet me, Mercy sweet
Laid kisses on my lip.
| Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold | |