Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AFTER THE STORM, by WILLIAM ARTHUR DUNKERLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AFTER THE STORM, by                    
First Line: After the storm - thy calm
Last Line: Temples of grace all dedicate to thee!
Alternate Author Name(s): Oxenham, John
Subject(s): Religion; Theology


After the storm -- Thy calm, --
After the earthquake, wind, and fire, --
The still, small voice,
Which yet doth pierce the marrow of our hearts
And makes our souls rejoice.

The whirlwind racked our Mounts of Selfish Ease; --
Thy Hand was in it, but we did not see.
The earthquake shook our proud-built buttresses; --
Thy Hand was in it, but we could not see.
The fire devoured our bravest and our best, --
Thy Hand was in it, but we would not see.
But now -- Thy ways are manifest,
And, dimly, Lord, we see.

Wrapped in the mantle of our sorrows, now
Before Thee in the cavern's mouth we stand;
Behind us, -- shall Thy mysteries of woe;
Before us, -- visions of Thy Promised Land.

A land swept clean by earthquake, storm and fire, --
A land wherein Thy Spirit may rejoice,
Where Faith and Hope, with Love enthroned, conspire
To build Thy Kingdom of the still, small voice.

That still, small voice that yet proclaims Thy will,
Above the thunders of the battle-plain,
That bids man his high destiny fulfill,
And rise, and reap in full Thy golden grain.

Thou hast made chaos of our old content,
Purged us with fire, and winnowed us with woe;
We were forgetting that Thy gifts are meant
Only to wean us from the things below.

Yea, we forgot that all life's joys are sent,
Not as an end, but of Thy favour lent
For our poor natures' sweet encouragement,
And for our souls' most high ennoblement.

Help us to purge us of those lower things,
Which, growing, brought this world-catastrophe!
Help us to build, of these our sufferings,
Temples of Grace all dedicate to Thee!





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