I sought on earth a garden of delight, Or island altar to the Sea and Air, Where gentle music were accounted prayer, And reason, veiled, performed the happy rite. My sad youth worshipped at the piteous height Where God vouchsafed the death of man to share; His love made mortal sorrow light to bear, But his deep wounds put joy to shamed flight. And though his arms, outstretched upon the tree, Were beautiful, and pleaded my embrace, My sins were loth to look upon his face. So came I down from Golgotha to thee, Eternal Mother; let the sun and sea Heal me, and keep me in thy dwelling-place. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VILLAGE IN LATE SUMMER by CARL SANDBURG FACADE: 24. AN OLD WOMAN LAMENTS IN SPRINGTIME by EDITH SITWELL THE PICKET-GUARD [NOVEMBER, 1861] by ETHEL LYNN BEERS THE EVENING WIND by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE FOOL AND THE POET by ALEXANDER POPE ODES I, 5 by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS |