 | Lyra Pastoralis |  |
40
Resurrection Types
OR, NATURE'S HINTS OF IMMORTALITY
An emerald beechen-leaf,
Bursting the sheath which fenced from frost and snow,
Dances through Summer days, untouched by grief,
The sapphire skies below.
Bursting the sheath which fenced from frost and snow,
Dances through Summer days, untouched by grief,
The sapphire skies below.
A dewy violet-flower,
Drawn sunwards from its root in the dank earth,
Scatters sweet odours on the shining hour
Of the Spring's bounteous birth.
Drawn sunwards from its root in the dank earth,
Scatters sweet odours on the shining hour
Of the Spring's bounteous birth.
A painted butterfly,
Which lately from its cell of darkness came,
Now sips the nectared cups, and soars on high,
A wingèd flower, or flame.
Which lately from its cell of darkness came,
Now sips the nectared cups, and soars on high,
A wingèd flower, or flame.
A fair, melodious bird,
Which slumbered once within its silent shell,
Poised in the blue is seen, or sweetly heard
Its ceaseless praise to tell.
Which slumbered once within its silent shell,
Poised in the blue is seen, or sweetly heard
Its ceaseless praise to tell.
An ear of drooping gold,
Sprung from a grain that fell to earth and died,
Now lifts to light its increase manifold—
Existence multiplied.
Sprung from a grain that fell to earth and died,
Now lifts to light its increase manifold—
Existence multiplied.
41
The purple-clustered fruit
Luxuriant hangs on the low-creeping vine;
And from rough, withered stalks are seen to shoot
Streams of heart-cheering wine.
Luxuriant hangs on the low-creeping vine;
And from rough, withered stalks are seen to shoot
Streams of heart-cheering wine.
A mighty-branchèd tree,
That wrapt within a buried acorn lay,
Adds century to rolling century,
And dreams not of decay.
That wrapt within a buried acorn lay,
Adds century to rolling century,
And dreams not of decay.
Thus in green leaf and flower,
In insect and in bird, in corn, grape, tree,
I see foreshadowed my own glorious dower
Of immortality.
In insect and in bird, in corn, grape, tree,
I see foreshadowed my own glorious dower
Of immortality.
If from its Winter sheath
The leaf escapes in vernal airs to wave,
God will not overlook His child beneath
The cerements of the grave.
The leaf escapes in vernal airs to wave,
God will not overlook His child beneath
The cerements of the grave.
If flowers burst forth in bloom
And fragrance; and if earth-bound insects soar
In life and happiness, for me the tomb
Shall open wide its door.
And fragrance; and if earth-bound insects soar
In life and happiness, for me the tomb
Shall open wide its door.
If from its dusky shell
The bird emerges into life and bliss
And music, in dim silence shall I dwell
And Heaven's glad anthems miss?
The bird emerges into life and bliss
And music, in dim silence shall I dwell
And Heaven's glad anthems miss?
42
Though like a corn I die,
Like the green blade I shall revive again;
And God's new life my powers shall multiply—
Death turned to golden gain.
Like the green blade I shall revive again;
And God's new life my powers shall multiply—
Death turned to golden gain.
Made one with the True Vine,
My fruit shall be abundant, gladdening, sure;
And married to eternal Strength Divine,
In bliss I shall endure.
My fruit shall be abundant, gladdening, sure;
And married to eternal Strength Divine,
In bliss I shall endure.
Let me but now be found
Trusting the Love which this sad earth has trod,
Then shall my deathless germ spring from the ground,
And claim its home with God!
Trusting the Love which this sad earth has trod,
Then shall my deathless germ spring from the ground,
And claim its home with God!
| Lyra Pastoralis | |