Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VAST OCEAN OF LIGHT, by PHINEAS FLETCHER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VAST OCEAN OF LIGHT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Vast ocean of light, whose rayes surround
Last Line: Seek on his cross: there, then, thus love stands nail'd with love.


Vast Ocean of light, whose rayes surround
The Universe, who know'st nor ebb, nor shore,
Who lend'st the Sun his sparkling drop, to store
With overflowing beams Heav'n, ayer, ground,
Whose depths beneath the Centre none can sound,
Whose heights 'bove heav'n, and thoughts so lofty soar,
Whose breadth no feet, no lines, no chains, no eyes survey,
Whose length no thoughts can reach, no worlds can bound,
What cloud can mask thy face? where can thy ray
Find an Eclipse? what night can hide Eternal Day?

Our Seas (a drop of thine) with arms dispread
Through all the earth make drunk the thirsty plains;
Our Sun (a spark of thine) dark shadows drains,
Guilds all the world, paints earth, revives the dead;
Seas (through earth pipes distill'd) in Cisterns shed,
And power their liver springs in river veins.
The Sun peeps through jet clouds, and when his face, and gleams
Are maskt, his eyes their light through ayers spread;
Shall dullard earth bury life-giving streams?
Earths foggs impound heav'ns light? hell quench heav'n-kindling beams?

How miss I then? in bed I sought by night,
But found not him in rest, nor rest without him.
I sought in Towns, in broadest streets I sought him,
But found not him where all are lost: dull sight
Thou canst not see him in himself: his light
Is maskt in light: brightness his cloud about him.
Where, when, how he'l be found, there, then, thus seek thy love:
Thy Lamb in flocks, thy Food with appetite,
Thy Rest on resting dayes, thy Turtle Dove
Seek on his cross: there, then, thus Love stands nail'd with love.





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