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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
GOD'S WAYS, NOT OUR WAYS, by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY Poet's Biography First Line: Men choose a crystal goblet filled with wine Last Line: Must climb on patience' ladder up to god. Alternate Author Name(s): Ray, Cordelia | |||
Men choose a crystal goblet filled with wine, That thirst and sense of beauty in all haste May be indulged; but soon the wine is spilled Or proves unpleasant to the sated taste; The crystal chasteness of the goblet slow Grows dimmer, and thus beauty is a loss; And man full weary, to the wayside flings That wealth of pleasure which has turned to dross, Close hugs a wooden bowl -- no substitute For grace and radiance -- and with pleading eyes, Begs his Creator humbly to send down One drop of water from the plenteous skies; God grants the boon, man drinks and is content. Most men refuse to tread on this or that, In their attempts to climb where angels are; Some fain would walk on roses, some on down, Some reach on waves of light the nearest star; But from the devious modes that they devise, One has adjusted been to ev'ry need; The fiat born of Wisdom goeth forth, And man must reck not that his feet will bleed; Nor dare to say in lofty arrogance, "Walk thou in that path, I will walk in this!" For he who would attain where angels bathe Their willing souls in affluence of bliss, Must climb on Patience' ladder up to God. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AMBITION by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY ANTIGONE AND OEDIPUS by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY ASPIRATION by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY AT THE CASCADE by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY CHARITY by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY FULL VISION by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY IN MEMORIAM by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY IN MEMORIAM: PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY INCOMPLETENESS by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY LIFE by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY |
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