Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, COMING TO THE KING, by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

COMING TO THE KING, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I came from very far away to see
Last Line: Within the fair pavilion of thy presence blest.
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens


I CAME from very far away to see
The King of Salem, for I had been told
Of glory and of wisdom manifold,
And condescension infinite and free.
How could I rest, when I had heard His fame,
In that dark lonely land of death from whence I came?

I came (but not like Sheba's queen), alone!
No stately train, no costly gifts to bring;
No friend at court save One, that One the King!
I had requests to spread before His throne,
And I had questions none could solve for me,
Of import deep, and full of awful mystery.

I came and communed with that mighty King,
And told Him all my heart; I cannot say
In mortal ear what communings were they.
But wouldst thou know, go, too, and meekly bring
All that is in thy heart, and thou shalt hear
His voice of love and power, his answers sweet and clear.

O happy end of every weary quest!
He told me all I needed, graciously;
Enough for guidance and for victory
O'er doubts and fears, enough for quiet rest;
And when some veiled response I could not read,
It was not hid from Him, -- this was enough indeed.

His wisdom and His glories passed before
My wondering eyes in gradual revelation;
The House that He had built, its strong foundation,
Its living stones; and, brightening more and more,
Fair glimpses of that palace far away,
Where all His loyal ones shall dwell with Him for aye.

True the report that reached my far-off land
Of all His wisdom and transcendent fame;
Yet I believed not until I came, --
Bowed to the dust till raised by royal hand.
The half was never told by mortal word;
My King exceeded all the fame that I had heard!

Oh, happy are His servants! happy they
Who stand continually before His face,
Ready to do His will of wisest grace!
My King! is mine such blessedness to-day?
For I too hear thy wisdom, line by line,
Thy ever-brightening words in holy radiance shine.

Oh, blessed be the Lord thy God, who set
Our King upon His throne! Divine delight
In the Beloved crowning Thee with might,
Honor, and majesty supreme; and yet
The strange and God-like secret opening thus, --
The kingship of His christ ordained through love to us!

What shall I render to my glorious King?
I have but that which I receive from Thee;
And what I give, Thou givest back to me,
Transmuted by Thy touch; each worthless thing
Changed to the preciousness of gem or gold,
And by Thy blessing multiplied a thousand-fold.

All my desire Thou grantest, whatsoe'er
I ask! Was ever mythic tale or dream
So bold as this reality, this stream
Of boundless blessings flowing full and free?
Yet more than I have thought or asked of Thee,
Out of Thy royal bounty still Thou givest me.

Now I will turn to mine own land, and tell
What I myself have seen and heard of Thee,
And give Thine own sweet message, "Come and see!"
And yet in heart and mind forever dwell
With Thee, my King of Peace, in loyal rest,
Within the fair pavilion of Thy presence blest.





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