Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, APOSTROPHE TO JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (PRESTISSIMO), by NATHAN HASKELL DOLE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

APOSTROPHE TO JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (PRESTISSIMO), by                    
First Line: Some who hear are rapt away
Last Line: Of paradisal days!
Subject(s): Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750); Composers; Music & Musicians


(Prestissimo)

Some who hear are rapt away
From the environment of clay,
Borne on wings of rapture
From Earth's trifling toys,
Ready to recapture
Something of Heaven's joys
Which they long had lost
At such bitter cost —
Borne beyond the evening star
Infinitely far
To the pearly gates
Where the Flame-guard waits
Each with his flashing scimitar!

Oh, the soul's attunèd ear
Songs of heavenly choirs may hear
Praise to God forth-pouring,
Set to harps of gold
Struck by rapt adoring
Angel hosts white-stoled,
While the crystalline
Harmonies divine
Of the far-revolving spheres,
Carrying golden years,
Swell like organ-notes,
And above all floats
Love's eternal hymn of joys and tears.

Master Bach, this was thy power!
Before thine organ seated
Didst thou make music flower
Like radiant many-prismed blossoms
In sterile human bosoms!
Oh, miracle repeated
A thousand times in thy dear life;
When men defeated,
Undone by strife,
New courage gained,
New hopes conceived;
When hearts sin-stained
Once more believed
That purity might be attained!
When Love, heart-banisht
Exile with broken wings,
Mourning her Eden vanisht
Once more to Hope's hand clings!
And sees a beauteous vision
Of joy elysian,
Crowned with immortal rays,
And with an infinite yearning
Beholds the sweet returning
Of paradisal days!





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