With what deep murmurs through time's silent stealth Doth thy transparent, cool, and watery wealth Here flowing fall, And chide, and call, As if his liquid, loose retinue stayed Lingering, and were of this steep place afraid, The common pass Where, clear as glass, All must descend -- Not to an end, But quickened by this deep and rocky grave, Rise to a longer course more bright and brave. Dear stream! dear bank, where often I Have sat and pleased my pensive eye, Why, since each drop of thy quick store Runs thither whence it flowed before, Should poor souls fear a shade or night, Who came, sure, from a sea of light? Or since those drops are all sent back So sure to thee, that none doth lack, Why should frail flesh doubt any more That what God takes He'll not restore? O useful element and clear! My sacred wash and cleanser here, My first consignor unto those Fountains of life where the Lamb goes! What sublime truths and wholesome themes Lodge in thy mystical deep streams! Such as dull man can never find Unless that Spirit lead his mind Which first upon thy face did move, And hatched all with His quickening love. As this loud brook's incessant fall In streaming rings restagnates all, Which reach by course the bank, and then Are no more seen, just so pass men. O my invisible estate, My glorious liberty, still late! Thou art the channel my soul seeks, Not this with cataracts and creeks. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO - (2) by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY AT THE CARNIVAL by ANNE SPENCER A SUPPLEMENT OF AN IMPERFECT COPY OF VERSES OF MR. WILL. SHAKESPEARE'S by JOHN SUCKLING A SONG OF A YOUNG LADY TO HER ANCIENT LOVER by JOHN WILMOT FOUR SONNETS: 4 by FRANK DAVIS ASHBURN A SONNET. ON THE PICTURE OF CAVALIER GUARINI PAINTED BY BORGIANNI by PHILIP AYRES |