NOW I am cast into the serpent pit And, catching difficult breath From the writhing, loathsome, ceaseless stir of it, The venomous whispers of curling, clasping Death, I lift my soul out of the pit to Thee And reaching with my soul to where Thou art Look down, seeing with free heart The beast God gave my soul for company Lie with companions fit; And bid, with a good will, The serpent-fangs of ill Take their foul fill Of the foul fell it wore. Though a thousand serpent heads were raised to slay, A thousand twisting coils writhed where it lay, There lies the beast, there let it lie for me And agonize and rave; For Thou has raised my soul, Thy soul, to Thee! Thy soul, dear Lord, Thou hast been strong to save! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN' by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR SONNETS TO LAURA IN LIFE: 109 by PETRARCH CASEY AT THE BAT (1) by ERNEST LAWRENCE THAYER AT ELLIS ISLAND by MARGARET LIVINGSTON CHANLER ALDRICH THE TINY HAT UPON THE BROW by LEVI BISHOP |