Behold the Court of Penance. Four gaunt walls Shutting out all things but the upper heaven. Stone flags for floor, where daily from their stalls The human cattle in a circle driven Tread down their pathway to a mire uneven, Pale-faced, sad-eyed, and mute as funerals. Woe to the wretch whose weakness unforgiven Falters a moment in the track or falls! Yet is there consolation. Overhead The pigeons build and the loud jackdaws talk, And once in the wind's eye, like a ship moored, A sea-gull flew and I was comforted. Even here the heavens declare thy glory, Lord, And the free firmament thy handiwork. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CRYSTAL GAZER by SARA TEASDALE THE WANDERER: 2. IN FRANCE: THE PORTRAIT by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON THE TRAGEDY OF VALENTINIAN: SPRING by JOHN FLETCHER ON A LUTE FOUND IN A SARCOPHAGUS by EDMUND WILLIAM GOSSE THE NIGHT [NICHT] IS NEAR [NIGH] GONE by ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE |