Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE EARTHLY HOUSE, by PHOEBE CARY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Once - in the ages that have passed away Last Line: "lord, who destroyest the temple -- is it I?" Subject(s): Temples; Mosques | ||||||||
ONCE -- in the ages that have passed away, Since the fair morning of that fairest day, When earth, in all her innocent beauty, stood Near her Creator, and He called her good -- He who had weighed the planets in his hand, And dropped them in the places where they stand, Builded a little temple white and fair, And of a workmanship so fine and rare Even the star that led to Bethlehem Had not the value of this wondrous gem. Then, that its strength and beauty might endure, He placed within, to keep it clean and pure, A living human soul. To him He said: "This is the temple which my hands have made To be thy dwelling-place, or foul or fair, As thou shalt make it by neglect or care. Mar or deface this temple's sacred wall, And swift destruction on the work shall fall: Preserve it perfect in its purity, And God Himself shall come and dwell with thee!" Then he for whom that holy place was built, Fair as a palace -- ah, what fearful guilt! -- Grew, after tending it a little while, Careless, then reckless, and then wholly vile. The evil spirits came and dwelt with him; The walls decayed, and through the windows dim He saw not this world's beauty any more, Heard no good angel knocking at his door; And all his house, because of sin and crime, Tumbled and fell in ruin ere its time. Oh, men and brethren! we who live to-day In dwellings made by God, though made of clay, Have these our mortal bodies ever been Kept fit for Him who made them pure and clean; Or was that soul in evil sunk so deep, He spoiled the temple he was set to keep, And turned to wastefulness and to abuse The tastes and passions that were meant for use; So like ourselves, that we, afraid, might cry: "Lord, who destroyest the temple -- is it I?" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BAYADERE by FRANCIS SALTUS SALTUS AT DENDERA by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR RAMESES WORSHIPS RAMESES AT ABU SIMBEL by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR GLIMPSES OF ITALY: 5. LIKE PAESTUM'S TEMPLE by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON MAYAN TEMPLE by ADA CLARKE CARMICHIEL THE DESERTED SHRINE by GLADYS CROMWELL THE ARK OF THE COVENANT by NINA DAVIS THE MENORAH by MIRIAM DEL BANCO THE MIRACULOUS OIL by CAROLINE DEUTSCH A LEGEND OF THE NORTHLAND by PHOEBE CARY |
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