GO thou and seek the house of prayer! I to the woodlands wend, and there In lovely nature see the God of love. The swelling organ's peal Wakes not my soul to zeal, Like the wild music of the wind-swept grove. The gorgeous altar and the mystic vest Rouse not such ardour in my breast, As where the noon-tide beam Flashed from the broken stream, Quick vibrates on the dazzled sight; Or where the cloud-suspended rain Sweeps in shadows o'er the plain; Or when reclining on the cliff's huge height I mark the billows burst in silver light. Go thou and seek the house of prayer! I to the woodlands shall repair, Feed with all nature's charms mine eyes, And hear all nature's melodies. The primrose bank shall there dispense Faint fragrance to the awakened sense; The morning beams that life and joy impart, Shall with their influence warm my heart, And the full tear that down my cheek will steal, Shall speak the prayer of praise I feel! Go thou and seek the house of prayer! I to the woodlands bend my way, And meet religion there. She needs not haunt the high-arched dome to pray Where storied windows dim the doubtful day: With liberty she loves to rove, Wide o'er the heathy hill or cowslipt dale; Or seek the shelter of the embowering grove, Or with the streamlet wind along the vale. Sweet are these scenes to her; and when the night Pours in the north her silver streams of light, She woos reflection in the silent gloom, And ponders on the world to come. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHRIST THE CONSOLER by HENRY WILLIAMS BAKER THE CYNOTAPH by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM THE DESCENT OF TIMOTHY by JAMES HAY BEATTIE FRONT LINE by WILLIAM ROSE BENET AFFINITES: 1 by MATHILDE BLIND SONG OF THE SEA by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON THE ETERNAL FEMININE by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON MEDITATIONS FOR EVERY DAY IN PASSION WEEK: SATURDAY by JOHN BYROM |