Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO GOD, by GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO GOD, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O thou, the one supreme o'er all!
Last Line: Beyond the range of thought.
Alternate Author Name(s): Gregory Of Nazianzen; Nanzianzen, Gregory; Gregory The Theologian
Subject(s): God; Jews; Religion; Judaism; Theology


O THOU, the One supreme o'er all!
For by what other name
May we upon thy greatness call,
Or celebrate thy fame?

Ineffable! to thee what speech
Can hymns of honor raise?
Ineffable! what tongue can reach
The measure of thy praise?

How, unapproached, shall mind of man
Descry Thy dazzling throne,
And pierce and find thee out, and scan
Where thou dost dwell alone?

Unuttered thou! all uttered things
Have had their birth from thee;
The one unknown! from thee the springs
Of all we know and see!

And all things, as they move along
In order fixed by thee,
Thy watchword heed, in silent song
Hymning thy majesty.

And lo! all things abide in thee,
And through the complex whole,
Thou spread'st thine own divinity,
Thyself of all the goal.

One being thou, all things, yet none,
Nor one nor yet all things;
How call thee, O mysterious One?
A worthy name, who brings?

All-named from attributes thine own,
How call thee as we ought?
Thou art unlimited, alone,
Beyond the range of thought.





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