|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON THE CLIFF-TOP, by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK Poet's Biography First Line: Face upward to the sky Last Line: From the cliff-top to the busy world again. Alternate Author Name(s): Mulock, Dinah Maria | |||
FACE upward to the sky Quiet I lie: Quiet as if the finger of God's will Had bade this human mechanism "be still!" And sent the intangible essence, this strange I, All wondering forth to His eternity. Below, the sea's sound, faint As dying saint Telling of gone-by sorrows long at rest: Above, the fearless sea-gull's shimmering breast Painted a moment on the dark blue skies -- A hovering joy, that while I watch it flies. Alike unheeded now Old griefs, and thou Quick-winged Joy, that like a bird at play Pleasest thyself to visit me to-day: On the cliff-top, earth dim and heaven clear, My soul lies calmly, above hope -- or fear. But not -- (do Thou forbid Whose stainless lid Wept tears at Lazarus' grave, and looking down Afar off, upon Solyma's doomed town.) Ah, not above love -- human yet divine -- Which, Thee seen first, in Thee sees all of Thine! Is't sunset? The keen breeze Blows from the seas: And at my side a pleasant vision stands With her brown eyes and kind extended hands. Dear, we'll go down together and full fain From the cliff-top to the busy world again. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOUGLAS, DOUGLAS, TENDER AND TRUE by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK HER LIKENESS by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK NOW AND AFTERWARDS by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK ONLY A WOMAN by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK PHILIP, MY KING by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A 'MERCENARY' MARRIAGE by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A CHILD'S SMILE by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A CHRISTMAS CAROL by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A DEAD BABY by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A DEAD SEA-GULL; NEAR LIVERPOOL by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK |
|