The Poetical Works of Caroline Bowles Southey Collected Edition |
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THERE IS A TONGUE IN EVERY LEAF. |
 | The Poetical Works of Caroline Bowles Southey |  |
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THERE IS A TONGUE IN EVERY LEAF.
There is a tongue in every leaf,
A voice in every rill!—
A voice that speaketh everywhere,
In flood and fire, through earth and air—
A tongue that's never still!
A voice in every rill!—
A voice that speaketh everywhere,
In flood and fire, through earth and air—
A tongue that's never still!
'Tis the Great Spirit, wide diffused
Through everything we see,
That with our spirits communeth
Of things mysterious—Life and Death—
Time and Eternity.
Through everything we see,
That with our spirits communeth
Of things mysterious—Life and Death—
Time and Eternity.
I see him in the blazing sun,
And in the thunder-cloud—
I hear him in the mighty roar,
That rusheth through the forest hoar
When winds are piping loud.
And in the thunder-cloud—
I hear him in the mighty roar,
That rusheth through the forest hoar
When winds are piping loud.
I see him, hear him everywhere,
In all things—Darkness, Light,
Silence, and Sound—but, most of all,
When slumber's dusky curtains fall
At the dead hour of night.
In all things—Darkness, Light,
Silence, and Sound—but, most of all,
When slumber's dusky curtains fall
At the dead hour of night.
I feel Him in the silent dews
By grateful earth betrayed—
I feel Him in the gentle showers,
The soft south wind, the breath of flowers,
The sunshine, and the shade.
By grateful earth betrayed—
I feel Him in the gentle showers,
The soft south wind, the breath of flowers,
The sunshine, and the shade.
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And yet, ungrateful that I am!
I've turned in sullen mood
From all these things—whereof He said,
When the great work was finishèd,
That they were “Very good!”
I've turned in sullen mood
From all these things—whereof He said,
When the great work was finishèd,
That they were “Very good!”
My sadness on the fairest things
Fell like unwholesome dew—
The darkness that encompassed me,
The gloom I felt so palpably,
Mine own dark spirit threw.
Fell like unwholesome dew—
The darkness that encompassed me,
The gloom I felt so palpably,
Mine own dark spirit threw.
Yet He was patient, slow to wrath,
Though every day provoked
By selfish pining discontent,
Acceptance cold, or negligent,
And promises revoked.
Though every day provoked
By selfish pining discontent,
Acceptance cold, or negligent,
And promises revoked.
And still the same rich feast was spread
For my insensate heart.
Not always so—I woke again
To join creation's rapturous strain—
“O Lord! how good Thou art!”
For my insensate heart.
Not always so—I woke again
To join creation's rapturous strain—
“O Lord! how good Thou art!”
The clouds drew up, the shadows fled,
The glorious sun broke out—
And Love, and Hope, and Gratitude
Dispelled that miserable mood
Of darkness and of doubt.
The glorious sun broke out—
And Love, and Hope, and Gratitude
Dispelled that miserable mood
Of darkness and of doubt.
| The Poetical Works of Caroline Bowles Southey | |