Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MISTAKES, by LYDIA HUNTLEY SIGOURNEY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MISTAKES, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Might we but view the shore
Last Line: And found them angels.
Subject(s): Errors; Mistakes; Fallacies


"Every thing that is high, is not holy; nor every desire pure;
nor all that is sweet, good; nor every thing that is dear to man,
pleasing to God." -- THOMAS A KEMPIS.

MIGHT we but view the shore
Of this dim world, as from heaven's hill it gleams,
How should we blame the tear unduly shed,
And tax the truant joy! How should we see
Amaz'd, our own mistakes: -- the lowly tomb
Of our lost idols blooming thick with flowers
Such as the seraph's bosom bears above,
And the steep cliff where we have madly blown
Ambition's victor-trump, with storm-clouds crown'd
To wreck the unwary soul: -- wealth's hoarded gold,
Eternal poverty; and the meek prayer
Of him who knew not where to lay his head,
An heritage of glory.
Each desire
Fed to fruition, till the satiate heart
Is gorg'd with richness, sows it not the seeds
Of sickness there? -- while he whose only rest
Was on a spear-point, who might ask for bread
Only to find a stone, gain'd he not thus
A mansion in the amaranthine bowers
Of love divine?
Prosperity, alas!
Is often but another name for pride,
And selfishness, which scorns another's woe;
While our keen disappointments are the food
Of that humility which entereth Heaven,
Finding itself at home. The things we mourn,
Work our eternal gain. Then let our joys
Be tremulous as the Mimosa's leaf,
And each affliction with a serious smile
Be welcom'd in at the heart's open door,
As the good patriarch met his muffled guests
And found them angels.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net