'By thy thoughts thou shalt be judged." STAY, winged thought! I fain would question thee; Though thy bright pinion is less palpable Than filmy gossamer, more swift in flight Than light's transmitted ray. Art thou a friend? Thou wilt not answer me. Thou hast no voice For mortal ear. Thy language is with God. -- I fear thee. Thou'rt a subtle husbandman, Sowing thy little seed, of good or ill, In the moist, unsunn'd surface of the heart. But what thou there in secresy dost plant Stands with its ripe fruit at the judgment-day. -- What hast thou dared to leave within my breast? Tell me thy ministry in that lock'd cell Of which I keep the key, till Death shall come. Knowest thou that I must give account for thee? Disrobe thee of thy mystery, and show What witness thou hast borne to the high Judge. -- Oh Man! so prodigal of words, in deeds Oft wise and wary, lest thy brother worm Should hang thereon his echo-taunt of shame, How dar'st thou trifle with all-fearful thought? -- Beware of thoughts. They whisper to the heavens. Though mute to thee, they prompt the diamond pen Of the recording angel. Make them friends! Those dread seed-planters for Eternity, Those sky-reporting heralds. Make them friends! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PICTURES OF MEMORY by ALICE CARY WORK WITHOUT HOPE by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE AUTHOR'S EPITAPH, MADE BY HIMSELF by WALTER RALEIGH TO A SISTER OF CHARITY by EDWIN GEORGE ALEXANDER TWELVE SONNETS: 11. FIRST, BATTLE; THEN, WOMAN by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) PSALM 56 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE SONG, FR. A VISION OF GIOGIONE: GEMMA'S SONG ON THE WATER by GORDON BOTTOMLEY |