Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ABER STATIONS: STATIO QUARTA, by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN Poet's Biography First Line: We have not seen the sun for many days Last Line: But that is what I meant. Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, T. E. Subject(s): Religion; Theology | ||||||||
We have not seen the sun for many days, But now through East-wind haze He makes a shift To send a luminous drift, To which, as to his full unclouded splendour, The meek, contented earth makes glad surrender. God bless the simple earth That gave me birth! God bless her that she looks so pleased -- The soul that is diseased With this world's sorrow -- Well, sir? ought to look? . . . Beyond, and yet beyond: not in this narrow nook Of His creation Will God make up His book. The whole is one great scheme Of compensation -- The net result Is all . . . I too have had my dream, As from my nonage dedicate a mvsthj Of that great cult. I saw Lord Love upon his galley pass Westward from Cyprus; smooth as glass The sea was all before him. He, as kentnj Stood at the stern, and piped The rhythms; but, ever and anon, As worked upon By some familiar Fury, grasping a scourge (An amethyst Fastened it to his wrist . . . Love's wrist!), He ran along the transtra, and did urge The rowers, and striped Their backs with blood; whereat they leapt Like maddened hounds, and swept The sea until it hissed. Then I: -- "Lord Love, what means this cruelty?" But he to me Deigned no reply: Only I saw his face was wet with tears, And he did look "beyond, and yet beyond." But those men, fond And fatuous, never turned Their eyes from his, but yearned With an insensate yearning, having confidence That so it must be; but on what pretence I know not -- Ah, most cruel lord! Ah, knotted cord! Dull plash Of livid tissues! flash Of oars that smote the waters to a hum . . . Come, come! You've had enough of this -- But what I meant, and what you seemed to miss, Was simply how the meek, contented earth, That gave me birth, Was pleased . . . Then you of soul diseased, And what not . . . excellent! But that is what I meant. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY A SERMON AT CLEVEDON; GOOD FRIDAY by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN |
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