Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OUR TITLES, by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OUR TITLES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Are we not nobles? We who trace
Last Line: The glory of our name?
Alternate Author Name(s): Berwick, Mary
Subject(s): Ancestry & Ancestors; Courts & Courtiers; God; Names


ARE we not Nobles? we who trace
Our pedigree so high
That God for us and for our race
Created Earth and Sky,
And Light and Air and Time and Space,
To serve us and then die.

Are we not Princes? we who stand
As heirs beside the Throne:
We who can call the promised Land
Our Heritage, our own;
And answer to no less command
Than God's and His alone.

Are we not kings? both night and day,
From early until late,
About our bed, about our way,
A guard of Angels wait;
And so we watch and work and pray
In more than royal state.

Are we not holy? Do not start
It is God's sacred will
To call us Temples set apart
His Holy Ghost may fill:
Our very food . . . . O hush, my Heart,
Adore IT and be still!

Are we not more? our Life shall be
Immortal and divine.
The nature Mary gave to Thee,
Dear Jesus, still is Thine;
Adoring in Thy Heart, I see
Such blood as beats in mine.

O God, that we can dare to fail,
And dare to say we must!
O God, that we can ever trail
Such banners in the dust,
Can let such starry honors pale,
And such a Blazon rust!

Shall we upon such Titles bring
The taint of sin and shame?
Shall we, the children of the King
Who hold so grand a claim,
Tarnish by any meaner thing
The glory of our name?





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