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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ON THE SANCTISSIMUM: 4. AT A PROCESSION by CHARLES WILLIAMS

First Line: OUT OF THE NOW REDEEM US INTO NOW!
Last Line: YET TIME THAT IS NOT NOW WERE BUT A DREAM.
Subject(s): CHURCHES; RELIGION; CATHEDRALS; THEOLOGY;

OUT of the now redeem us into Now!
Out of the moment bring us to the End,
Which is not ending merely, but the blend
Of all the process and the event, for thou
Dost in this moment—hiding but the how
Besought by all philosophy—expend
Thyself in act, and so dost ever mend
This now with thine Eternal. In this show
Thy wedded contraries go softly by:
Moving, thou mov'st not; changing, dost not change.
Thou art, and all is that would else but seem.
Delicate contemplation! Thou draw'st nigh,
Thou passest, thou. All time we have for range,
Yet time that is not Now were but a dream.



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