Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EXILE, by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN Poet's Biography First Line: In sorrow and in nakedness of soul Last Line: "but has a heavenly birth." Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, T. E. Subject(s): Religion; Theology | ||||||||
IN sorrow and in nakedness of soul I look into the street, If haply there mine eye may meet, As up and down it ranges, The servants of my Father bearing changes Of raiment sweet -- Seven changes sweet with violet and moly, Seven changes pure and holy. But nowhere 'mid the thick entangled throng Mark I their proud sad paces; Nowhere the light upon their faces, Serene with that great beauty Wherein the singly meditated duty Its empire traces: -- Only the fretful merchants stand and cry: -- "Come buy! come buy! come buy!" And the big bales are drunk with all the purple That wells in vats of Tyre, And unrolled damasks stream with golden fire And broideries of Ind, And, piled on Polar furs, are braveries winned From far Gadire. And I am waiting, abject, cold, and numb, Yet sure that they will come. O naked soul, be patient in this stead! Thrice blest are they that wait. O Father of my soul, the gate Will open soon, and they Who minister to Thee and Thine alway Will enter straight, And speak to me, that I shall understand The speech of Thy great land. And I will rise, and wash, and they will dress me As Thou wouldst have me dressed; And I shall stand confest Thy son; and men shall falter: -- "Behold the ephod of the unseen altar! O God-possessed! Thy raiment is not from the looms of earth, But has a Heavenly birth." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY A SERMON AT CLEVEDON; GOOD FRIDAY by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN |
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