How didst thou start, Thou Holy Baptist, bid To pour repentance on the Sinless Brow! Then all thy meekness, from thy hearers hid, Beneath the Ascetic's port, and Preacher's fire, Flow'd forth, and with a pang thou didst desire He might be chief, not thou. And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim Powers that we dread, or dare some forward part; Nor must we shrink as cravens from the blame Of pride, in common eyes, or purpose deep; But with pure thoughts look up to God, and keep Our secret in our heart. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GOOD-BYE DOROTHY GAYLE: ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA by KAREN SWENSON EPIGRAM: 14. TO WILLIAM CAMDEN by BEN JONSON THE BIGLOW PAPERS: 3. WHAT MR. ROBINSON THINKS by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL ENGLAND AND AMERICA: 1. ON A RHINE STEAMER by JAMES KENNETH STEPHEN |