If I would talk with God, my hasty tongue Must hold itself for that high converse pure, As one who has appointment with a king Scorns gossip with a minion at the gate. If I would listen to the voice of God, I dare not hear the prattlement of men, The bargaining, the vaunting, the untruth, The words that crawl and sting; for ears have room For somewhat, and no more. If I would walk Beside my God, His comrade and His friend, I must go His way, He will not go mine. If I would own the wealth of God, the gold, The gems of affluent heaven, like the dross Of basest refuse I must hurl away The spoil of greed and all the miser's glut. If I would know the wondrous lore of God, What sciences I shall not dare to know! If I would wield the awful power of God, How I must sink myself in helplessness! If I would revel in the love of God, What lesser loves must I disdain to serve! O Infinite, O Lover, O Supreme, Father and Leader and unfailing Friend, What littles must I gladly lose for Thee, What nothings must I tread beneath my feet To reach Thy hand, Thy bosom, and Thy face! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DESERTED HOUSE by ALFRED TENNYSON ON BUTLER'S MONUMENT [IN WESTMINSTER] by SAMUEL WESLEY SONNET TO NIGHT by JOSEPH BLANCO WHITE MINSTREL OF THE SUN by FREDERICK HENRY HERBERT ADLER TO MR. MONTGOMERY; OCCASIONED BY ... ATTACK ON HIS POEMS by LUCY AIKEN THREE SONNETS WRITTEN IN MID-CHANNEL: 3 by ALFRED AUSTIN SONG: 2 by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |