Sonnets and Fugitive Pieces :: :: University of Virginia Library

On from the spot that saw it's first essay
The earthquake travell'd—mark ye how he strove!
While ruin, aye attendant on his way,
Sped swiftly o'er the cleaving realms above:
Slowly the seasons do transform the grove,
All other change is wrought with soft delay
But this, which drives the course of streams astray
Once and for evermore: When to remove
Earth from her deep foundations God doth will,
The work is done with noises thunder-loud
And lightning-speed: Such ministers fulfil
The 'hests of Him, by whom the Heavens are bow'd
When he descendeth down on Zion hill,
While darkness is beneath him like a cloud!