Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ST. COLUMBA IN IONA, by ANONYMOUS First Line: Delightful would it be to me Last Line: No evil shall undo me Subject(s): "iona, Scotland;nature; | ||||||||
[From an Irish manuscript in the Burgundian Library, Brussels.] Delightful would it be to me From a rock pinnacle to trace Continually The ocean's face; That I might watch the heaving waves Of noble force To God the Father chant their staves Of the earth's course; That I might mark its level strand, To me no lone distress, That I might hark the sea-bird's wondrous band-- Sweet source of happiness; That I might hear the clamorous billows thunder On the rude beach, That by my blessed church side I might ponder Their mighty speech, Or watch surf-flying gulls the dark shoal follow With joyous scream, Or mighty ocean monsters spout and wallow-- Wonder supreme! That I might well observe of ebb and flood All cycles therein; And that my mystic name might be for good But "Cul-ri, Erin." That gazing toward her on my heart might fall A full contrition, That I might then bewail my evils all, Though hard the addition; That I might bless the Lord who all things orders For their great good; The countless hierarchies through Heaven's bright borders-- Land, strand and flood. That I might search all books and from their chart Find my soul's calm; Now kneel before the heaven of my heart, Now chant a psalm; Now meditate upon the King of Heaven, Chief of the Holy Three; Now ply my work, by no compulsion driven. What greater joy could be? Now plucking dulse upon the rocky shore, Now fishing eager on, Now furnishing food unto the famished poor; In hermitage anon. The guidance of the King of Kings Hath been vouchsafed unto me; If I keep watch beneath His wings, No evil shall undo me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SITTING BULL IN SERBIA by WILLIAM JAY SMITH TO THE EXCELLENT ORINDA by PHILO PHILIPPA EPIGRAM OCCASIONED BY CIBBER'S VERSES IN PRAISE OF NASH: 1 by ALEXANDER POPE THE GIFT OF THE GODS by JOHN GODFREY SAXE TO CHRISTOPHER NORTH by ALFRED TENNYSON BEAU NASH by CHARLES TENNYSON TURNER BEAU NASH AND THE ROMAN, OR THE TWO ERAS by CHARLES TENNYSON TURNER TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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