Classic and Contemporary Poetry
GIVE ME THY HEART, by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER Poet's Biography First Line: With echoing steps the worshippers / departed one by one Last Line: The sacred presence there! Alternate Author Name(s): Berwick, Mary Subject(s): Faith; Worship; Belief; Creed | ||||||||
WITH echoing steps the worshippers Departed one by one; The organ's pealing voice was stilled, The vesper hymn was done; The shadow fell from roof and arch, Dim was the incensed air, One lamp alone, with trembling ray, Told of the Presence there! In the dark church she knelt alone; Her tears were falling, fast; "Help, Lord," she cried, "the shades of death Upon my soul are cast! Have I not not shunned the path of sin, And chose the better part?" -- What voice came through the sacred air -- "My child, give me thy heart!" "Have not I laid before thy shrine My wealth, O Lord?" she cried; "Have I kept aught of gems or gold, To minister to pride? Have I not bade youth's joys retire, And vain delights depart?" -- But sad and tender was the voice,-- "My child, give me thy heart!" "Have I not, Lord, gone day by day Where thy poor children dwell; And carried help, and gold, and food? Lord, thou know'st it well! From many a house, from many a soul, My hand bids care depart": -- More sad, more tender was the voice, -- "My child, give me thy heart!" "Have I not worn my strength away With fast and penance sore? Have I not watched and wept?" she cried; "Did thy dear saints do more? Have I not gained thy grace, O Lord, And won in heaven my part?" -- It echoed louder in her soul, -- My child, give me thy heart! "For I have loved thee with a love No mortal heart can show; A love so deep my saints in heaven Its depths can never know: When picked and wounded on the cross, Man's sin and doom were mine, I loved thee with undying love, Immortal and divine! "I loved thee ere the skies were spread; My soul bears all thy pains; To gain thy love my sacred heart In earthly shrines remains: Vain are thy offerings, vain thy sighs, Without one gift divine; Give it, my child, thy heart to me, And it shall rest in mine!" In awe she listened, as the shade Passed from her soul away; In low and trembling voice she cried, -- "Lord, help me to obey! Break thou the chains of earth, O Lord, That bind and hold my heart; Let it be thine and thine alone, Let none with thee have part. "Send down, O Lord, thy sacred fire! Consume and cleanse the sin That lingers still within its depths: Let heavenly love begin. That sacred flame thy saints have known, Kindle, O Lord, in me, Thou above all the rest forever, And all the rest in thee." The blessing fell upon her soul; Her angel by her side Knew that the hour of peace was come; Her soul was purified; The shadows fell from roof and arch, Dim was the incensed air, -- But peace went with her as she left The sacred Presence there! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNHOLY SONNET 4 by MARK JARMAN QUIA ABSURDUM by ROBINSON JEFFERS GOING TO THE HORSE FLATS by ROBINSON JEFFERS SONNET TO FORTUNE by LUCY AIKEN JONATHAN EDWARDS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS by ROBERT LOWELL RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION by MINA LOY A DOUBTING HEART by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER |
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