 | Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell |  |
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A VISION.
I had left the church one evening after holy prayer and psalm,
And my heart 'neath chant and anthem grew wondrous strong and calm,
For the echoes of the great organ still sounded sweet and clear,
And, blent with the choristers' voices, lingered upon the ear.
The air seemed athrill with music as I laid me down to sleep,
And committed soul and body to the Father's hands to keep.
And my heart 'neath chant and anthem grew wondrous strong and calm,
For the echoes of the great organ still sounded sweet and clear,
And, blent with the choristers' voices, lingered upon the ear.
The air seemed athrill with music as I laid me down to sleep,
And committed soul and body to the Father's hands to keep.
When I closed my eyes in slumber, I woke in the land of dreams,
And that heaven opened around me where a radiance ever streams
From the throne of the Uncreated, who dwells in the dazzling light,
Hidden in His own splendour from even the angels' sight,
Who before that dread effulgence veil face and feet with wings,
As one to another in worship thrice “Holy, holy!” sings.
And that heaven opened around me where a radiance ever streams
From the throne of the Uncreated, who dwells in the dazzling light,
Hidden in His own splendour from even the angels' sight,
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As one to another in worship thrice “Holy, holy!” sings.
And methought I saw bright creatures with light upon their brow
Flashing by with the splendour of morning when it sets the heavens aglow,
And seraphs in burning beauty like flames of living fire,
With cherubim borne where they listed on wings of their own desire;
And while some were intent on service, some waited and stood at rest,
But though each filled a different office, yet all equally were blest.
Flashing by with the splendour of morning when it sets the heavens aglow,
And seraphs in burning beauty like flames of living fire,
With cherubim borne where they listed on wings of their own desire;
And while some were intent on service, some waited and stood at rest,
But though each filled a different office, yet all equally were blest.
And saints with harps were standing on the bright and glassy sea,
And struck the strings all golden to a rich deep melody,
And there were sounds of viol and tabret, and choral hymn and song,
Which floated in silver cadence the heart of heaven along,
Till it rose to the ear of the Highest, who sat on the great white throne
Ringed round by an emerald rainbow and clear as a sapphire stone.
And struck the strings all golden to a rich deep melody,
And there were sounds of viol and tabret, and choral hymn and song,
Which floated in silver cadence the heart of heaven along,
Till it rose to the ear of the Highest, who sat on the great white throne
Ringed round by an emerald rainbow and clear as a sapphire stone.
Then I saw One advancing toward me with a crown on His radiant hair,
And His face lit up like the morning, beautiful, shining, and fair;
And I fell down in worship before Him, filled with a solemn awe,
Held in adoring wonder by all that I heard and saw,—
By visions of glory on glory that rose on my dazzled sight,
By a heart with rapture flooded, by a strange and a sweet delight.
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And I fell down in worship before Him, filled with a solemn awe,
Held in adoring wonder by all that I heard and saw,—
By visions of glory on glory that rose on my dazzled sight,
By a heart with rapture flooded, by a strange and a sweet delight.
'Twas a joy all joy excelling the Life and the Light to meet,
Bliss beyond all conception to clasp and to kiss His feet.—
Then He laid His hand upon me,—laid it with touch divine—
And I thrilled as with eyes all loving He looked tenderly into mine,
With a look that expressed in a moment all even He could show
Of a love that passeth knowledge to sinful man below.
Bliss beyond all conception to clasp and to kiss His feet.—
Then He laid His hand upon me,—laid it with touch divine—
And I thrilled as with eyes all loving He looked tenderly into mine,
With a look that expressed in a moment all even He could show
Of a love that passeth knowledge to sinful man below.
When above all the glorious singing, borne in on the ravished soul,
Clearer than song seraphic, struck from a gold citole,
Came a voice of melodious sweetness upon the enchanted ear,
Which deepened the awe that held me, but freed the soul from fear:
“Look up, look up, thou blesséd; here shalt thou stay with me;
All that thou seest of glory, freely I give to thee!”
Clearer than song seraphic, struck from a gold citole,
Came a voice of melodious sweetness upon the enchanted ear,
Which deepened the awe that held me, but freed the soul from fear:
“Look up, look up, thou blesséd; here shalt thou stay with me;
All that thou seest of glory, freely I give to thee!”
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Then I fain would have spoken in answer, but could not, and was dumb;
In vain did I struggle for utterance, the words refused to come,—
And in that fruitless effort to express what I wished to say,
Slowly the vision faded,—quietly passed away:—
The glory paled and vanished, waned from my yearning sight,—
I awoke in this world of shadows, and round me still brooded the night.
In vain did I struggle for utterance, the words refused to come,—
And in that fruitless effort to express what I wished to say,
Slowly the vision faded,—quietly passed away:—
The glory paled and vanished, waned from my yearning sight,—
I awoke in this world of shadows, and round me still brooded the night.
But adown the slanting moonbeams which stole into my room,
And made a pathway of silver which streamed athwart the gloom,
I seemed still to see God's angels, with a light upon hair and face,
Flashing like flames of fire as they flash'd through the holy place,
And the voice that I heard in heaven came ringing adown the spheres,
And, sweeter far than music, touch'd the spring of happy tears.
And made a pathway of silver which streamed athwart the gloom,
I seemed still to see God's angels, with a light upon hair and face,
Flashing like flames of fire as they flash'd through the holy place,
And the voice that I heard in heaven came ringing adown the spheres,
And, sweeter far than music, touch'd the spring of happy tears.
Now oft as I sit in silence, when no one else is by,
I see the regions of glory and the throne of God on high,
And I hear the harpings of angels as they stand on the sea of fire,
And the songs of saints and seraphs, and my heart grows sick with desire;
For I long with a passionate longing for wings of the rapid dove,
To flee to the land of my vision, the heaven of light and love.
I see the regions of glory and the throne of God on high,
And I hear the harpings of angels as they stand on the sea of fire,
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For I long with a passionate longing for wings of the rapid dove,
To flee to the land of my vision, the heaven of light and love.
| Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell | |