The Poetry of Real Life A New Edition, Much Enlarged and Improved. By Henry Ellison |
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ON SEEING, OR, RATHER, NOT SEEING, WESTMINSTER ABBEY. |
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 | The Poetry of Real Life |  |
ON SEEING, OR, RATHER, NOT SEEING, WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
I entered from the crowded street, and all
The noise of passing Life, behind me, died
Out, like the murmur of the ebbing tide
Of some great sea, in distance musical!
I thought to leave it for awhile, its small
And jostling interests, its pomp and pride,
And step from out it, with a regal stride,
A monarch of the Dead, and wrap the pall
Around me, like a royal robe of state!
But Life, in all its littleness, was there
Before me, and, as at a tollbar-gate,
A fee is asked of all who would repair
To pass an hour with the departed Great,
And Mammon of God's temple has the care!
The noise of passing Life, behind me, died
Out, like the murmur of the ebbing tide
Of some great sea, in distance musical!
I thought to leave it for awhile, its small
And jostling interests, its pomp and pride,
And step from out it, with a regal stride,
A monarch of the Dead, and wrap the pall
Around me, like a royal robe of state!
But Life, in all its littleness, was there
Before me, and, as at a tollbar-gate,
A fee is asked of all who would repair
To pass an hour with the departed Great,
And Mammon of God's temple has the care!
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Oh Metropolitan Heart, thine is the blame,
That, sleeping, liest with head in Mammon's lap,
And, waking, bow'st the knee, and doff'st the cap—
Thou that, for greater sin and deeper shame,
Permittest such things in Religion's name!
Rise, thou that art to England as the pap
Of chief support, arise, and round thee wrap
Thy power, like a garment, and thy fame!
Stretch out thy mighty arm, upon which thou
(Like Power leaning on his own right hand)
Art dozing, and, with voice of full command,
Thine indignation at such acts avow—
Things of more pith and scope thy hand hath spanned
Ere this, and it ought not to fail thee now!
That, sleeping, liest with head in Mammon's lap,
And, waking, bow'st the knee, and doff'st the cap—
Thou that, for greater sin and deeper shame,
Permittest such things in Religion's name!
Rise, thou that art to England as the pap
Of chief support, arise, and round thee wrap
Thy power, like a garment, and thy fame!
Stretch out thy mighty arm, upon which thou
(Like Power leaning on his own right hand)
Art dozing, and, with voice of full command,
Thine indignation at such acts avow—
Things of more pith and scope thy hand hath spanned
Ere this, and it ought not to fail thee now!
| The Poetry of Real Life | |