Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LONGING, by INA DONNA COOLBRITH Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: O foolish wisdom sought in books! Last Line: And hear his voice and answer him. Subject(s): Worship | ||||||||
O foolish wisdom sought in books! O aimless fret of household tasks! O chains that bind the hand and mind - A fuller life my spirit asks! For there the grand hills, summer-crowned, Slope greenly downward to the seas; One hour of rest upon their breast Were worth a year of days like these. Their cool, soft green to ease the pain Of eyes that ache o'er printed words; This weary noise - the city's voice, Lulled in the sound of birds and bees. For Eden's life within me stirs, And scorns the shackles that I wear; The man-life grand - pure soul, strong hand, The limb of steel, the heart of air! And I could kiss, with longing wild, Earth's dear brown bosom, loved so much, A grass-blade fanned across my hand, Would thrill me like a lover's touch. The trees would talk with me; the flowers Their hidden meanings each make known - The olden lore revived once more, When man's and nature's heart were one! And as the pardoned pair might come Back to the garden God first framed, And hear Him call at even-full, And answer, 'Here am I,' unshamed - So I, from out these toils, wherein The Eden-faith grows stained and dim, Would walk, a child, through nature's wild, And hear His voice and answer Him. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COMPANIONSHIP by MALTBIE DAVENPORT BABCOCK FOR I WILL CONSIDER YOUR DOG MOLLY by DAVID LEHMAN RUSSIAN CATHEDRAL by CLAUDE MCKAY LITTLE WHITE CHURCH by MARILYN NELSON A STEEPLE ON THE HOUSE by ROBERT FROST MATE (1) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ANSWER TO PRAYER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE MARIPOSA LILY by INA DONNA COOLBRITH |
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