Poems By the author of "The Patience of Hope" [i.e. Dora Greenwell] |
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ASPIRATION. |
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241
ASPIRATION.
O that my songs were sweet!
Sweet as the voice of bird or breath of rose,
Then would I lay them at His feet,
From whom all sweetness flows.
Sweet as the voice of bird or breath of rose,
Then would I lay them at His feet,
From whom all sweetness flows.
O that some sudden breeze
Might sweeping cross my lyre, that once awoke
The solemn murmurs of the cedar trees,
Where man with angels spoke!
Might sweeping cross my lyre, that once awoke
The solemn murmurs of the cedar trees,
Where man with angels spoke!
That once the living coal
Upon my lips, within my heart might lie,
Within the secret chambers, where my soul
Hath stored its imagery.
Upon my lips, within my heart might lie,
Within the secret chambers, where my soul
Hath stored its imagery.
That once the fire would break
While I am musing 'mid the fancies lone
That I have garnered, and Heaven's Lightning make
The sacrifice its own!
While I am musing 'mid the fancies lone
That I have garnered, and Heaven's Lightning make
The sacrifice its own!
242
Then would I stoop no more
Of earthly Love, of earthly Grief to sing,
That met and mingled in their sighs, of yore
So oft upon the string;
Of earthly Love, of earthly Grief to sing,
That met and mingled in their sighs, of yore
So oft upon the string;
For as the dew-drops dry
On the bird's wing, exhaling in its flight,
So mortal dreams would on my spirit die,
Nearing the source of light;
On the bird's wing, exhaling in its flight,
So mortal dreams would on my spirit die,
Nearing the source of light;
And like a flame that glows
Steadfast before an altar, from the ground
My soul would soar, and scatter as it rose
Odours and light around!
Steadfast before an altar, from the ground
My soul would soar, and scatter as it rose
Odours and light around!
Yet since this may not be,
Since, but before the Temple's Outer Gate,
And not within its Inner Sanctuary
I minister and wait;
Since, but before the Temple's Outer Gate,
And not within its Inner Sanctuary
I minister and wait;
Still would I linger fain
About that Porch, and patient strive to win
A breath of sweetness for an earthly strain
From all that flows within!
About that Porch, and patient strive to win
A breath of sweetness for an earthly strain
From all that flows within!
Still would I strive to bring
(E'en of the best I could) my gift, and twine
Of earthly blossoms, soon awithering,
A garland for that shrine;
(E'en of the best I could) my gift, and twine
Of earthly blossoms, soon awithering,
A garland for that shrine;
243
Flowers of the field and wood.
Fading, and faint, and frail, yet haply there
Received by Him that made them once so good,
And keeps them still so fair!
Fading, and faint, and frail, yet haply there
Received by Him that made them once so good,
And keeps them still so fair!
Pale blossoms, dewy-bright
(For they are Earth's, that speaks through tears her love);
Yet all their leaves unfolding to the light
Of sunshine from above!
(For they are Earth's, that speaks through tears her love);
Yet all their leaves unfolding to the light
Of sunshine from above!
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