Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FAITH, by PHOEBE CARY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Dear, gentle faith! On the sheltered porch Last Line: That bloom in the smile of god! Subject(s): Faith; Belief; Creed | ||||||||
DEAR, gentle Faith! on the sheltered porch She used to sit by the hour, As still and white as the whitest rose That graced the vines of her bower. She watched the motes in the sun, the bees, And the glad birds come and go; The butterflies, and the children bright That chased them to and fro. She saw them happy, one and all, And she said that God was good; Though she never had walked on the sweet green grass, And, alas! she never would! She saw the happy maid fulfill Her woman's destiny; The trusting bride on the lover's arm, And the babe on the mother's knee. She folded meek, her empty hands, And she blest them, all and each, While the treasure that she coveted Was put beyond her reach. "Yea, if God wills it so," she said, "Even so 't is mine to live. What to withhold He knoweth best, As well as what to give!" At last, for her, the very sight Of the good, fair earth was done. She could not reach the porch, nor see The grass, nor the motes in the sun; Yet still her smile of sweet content Made heavenly all the place, As if they sat about her bed Who see the Father's face; For to his will she bent her head, As bends to the rain the rose. "We know not what is best," she said; "We only know He knows!" Poor, crippled Faith! glad, happy Faith! Even in affliction blest; For she made the cross we thought so hard A sweet support and rest. Wise, trusting Faith! when she gave her hand To One we could not see, She told us all she was happier Than we could ever be. And we knew she thought how her feet, that ne'er On the good, green earth had trod, Would walk at last on the lily-beds That bloom in the smile of God! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNHOLY SONNET 4 by MARK JARMAN QUIA ABSURDUM by ROBINSON JEFFERS GOING TO THE HORSE FLATS by ROBINSON JEFFERS SONNET TO FORTUNE by LUCY AIKEN JONATHAN EDWARDS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS by ROBERT LOWELL RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION by MINA LOY A LEGEND OF THE NORTHLAND by PHOEBE CARY |
|