Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SUNDAY RAIL: 2. A SCOTTISH SUMMER SABBATH MORNING, by JANET HAMILTON Poet's Biography First Line: The still repose, the holy calm Last Line: By idle pleasure, sin, and folly. Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson Subject(s): Railroads; Religion; Sabbath; Scotland; Railways; Trains; Theology; Sunday | ||||||||
THE still repose, the holy calm Of this blest morn, a sacred balm Sheds on my world-worn weary heart; Its quiet beatitudes impart A peace benign, a yearning love, A wish for perfect peace above. The liquid music of the rill; The crow of muircock on the hill; The chirping, twittering, warbling gush Of feathered throats in brake and bush; And high o'erhead, on quivering wings, The lark her thrilling anthem sings. These only are the sounds I hear; But ah! I feel that God is near Near to the soul that from her wings Shakes off the soil of earthly things That mar her flight and chill her life Through six days' care, and toil, and strife. Thank God, to us one day in seven, The blessed Sabbath rest is given Given that the soul may prune her wing, And to the Sabbath altar bring, And on its sacred circle lay The hallowed offerings of the day, Thoughts, winged with faith, that to the skies In prayer and meditation rise. To praise Thy name and hear Thy Word, Within Thy sacred Temple, Lord, Our love and duty we unite, And call the Sabbath a delight. Not such the Sunday tourist feels When on the steam-car's rushing wheels, In quest of health and recreation We add, of pleasure and flirtation He flies along the sounding line And thinks the day indeed divine; And says, "From bigot trammels free, The Sunday holiday for me!" Oh, Scottish workmen! Oh, my brothers! I plead with you above all others: Why lose your prestige?why backslide From fathers, once their country's pride, From whom you boast you are descended? Ah! they could ne'er have apprehended That ye, their sons by blood and name, Should thus dishonourshame! oh, shame! The Hallowed Day, ordained most holy, By idle pleasure, sin, and folly. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DAT GAL O' MINE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SUNDAY: NEW GUINEA by KARL SHAPIRO SABBATHS: 2001 by WENDELL BERRY SUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAY by PAUL BLACKBURN THE SABBATH OF THE SOUL by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD A BALLAD FOUNDED ON A REAL INCIDENT WHICH OCCURED IN HIGH LIFE by JANET HAMILTON |
|