Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE MASTER'S TOUCH by HORATIO (HORATIUS) BONAR

Poet Analysis

First Line: IN THE STILL AIR THE MUSIC LIES UNHEARD
Last Line: THY PERFECT IMAGE, THOU OUR GOD AND LORD!
Subject(s): RELIGION; THEOLOGY;

IN the still air the music lies unheard;
In the rough marble beauty hides unseen:
To make the music and the beauty, needs
The master's touch, the sculptor's chisel keen.

Great Master, touch us with thy skilful hand;
Let not the music that is in us die!
Great Sculptor, hew and polish us; nor let,
Hidden and lost, thy form within us lie!

Spare not the stroke! do with us as thou wilt!
Let there be naught unfinished, broken, marred;
Complete thy purpose, that we may become
Thy perfect image, thou our God and Lord!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net