The heavens are very blue Above the western hill; The earth is very still -- I will draw near, and view The spot Where he is . . . not. But O dear cliff, O big, good-natured giant, I think some delicate dint must still remain On your broad surface, from the strain Of limbs so sweetly pliant. Behold! The lamb! the lamb! fallen from the very rock! Cold! cold! Dead! dead! His little head Rests on the very block That Braddan trod -- Dear lambs! twin lambs of God! Old cliff, such things Might move some stubborn questionings -- But now I question not -- See, see! the waterfall Is robed in rainbows -- what! Our lambs? My Braddan shall have charge Of him, and lead him by the marge Of some bright stream celestial. Braddan shall be a happy shepherd boy; No trouble shall annoy That soft green pasturn -- Ah, Murillo, saint! Kind friend! that for all sorrowing hearts didst paint John Baptist and the Lamb -- those arms thrown round That neck! Forgive me, God, that I have found Some comfort in this little parable -- It gives me strength to climb the hill, And humbly so return -- God bless the merry burn! I have no will But thine, O God! I know that Thou art true -- Be blue, O heavens, be blue! Be still, O earth, be still! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A VOICE FROM THE SWEAT-SHOPS (A HYMN WITH RESPONSES) by LOUIS UNTERMEYER DIRGE OF RORY O'MORE; 1642 by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE THE BONNIE BLUE FLAG by ANNIE CHAMBERS KETCHUM THE CHILD ALONE: 6. BLOCK CITY by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON DESERT NIGHT by FRANCES DAVIS ADAMS THE GIRLS' LOT by AGATHIAS SCHOLASTICUS EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 26. PLATONIC LOVE by PHILIP AYRES |