Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PER ARDUA AD ASTRA, by WILLIAM ARTHUR DUNKERLEY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PER ARDUA AD ASTRA, by                    
First Line: Lift me, o god, above myself
Last Line: And climb thy loftier way.
Alternate Author Name(s): Oxenham, John
Subject(s): Religion; Theology


Lift me, O God, above myself, --
Above my highest spheres,
Above the thralling things of sense
To clearer atmospheres.

Lift me above the little things, --
My poor sufficiencies,
My perverse will, my lack of zeal,
My inefficiencies; --

Above the earth-born need that gropes,
With foolish hankerings,
About earth's cumbered lower slopes
For earthly garnerings.

Above the vanities and cates
Of the Forbidden Land; --
Above the passions and the hates
That flame there hand in hand.

Lift me, O God, above myself,
Above these lesser things,
Above my little gods of clay,
And all their capturings.

And grant my soul a glad new birth,
And fledge it strong new wings,
That it may soar above the earth
To nobler prosperings.

Lift me, O God, above myself,
That, in Thy time and day,
I somewhat grace Thy fosterings
And climb Thy loftier Way.





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