Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE PRAYER IN THE WILDERNESS; SUGGESTED BY A PICTURE OF CORREGGIO'S, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: In the deep wilderness unseen she prayed Last Line: Like the dim night-flower's odour, up to god! Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea Subject(s): Correggio [antonio Allegri] (1494-1534); Paintings & Painters; Prayer | ||||||||
IN the deep wilderness unseen she prayed, The daughter of Jerusalem; alone With all the still, small whispers of the night, And with the searching glances of the stars, And with her God, alone: she lifted up Her sweet, sad voice, and, trembling o'er her head, The dark leaves thrilled with prayer -- the tearful prayer Of woman's quenchless, yet repentant love. Father of Spirits, hear! Look on the inmost heart to Thee revealed, Look on the fountain of the burning tear, Before thy sight in solitude unsealed! Hear, Father! hear, and aid! If I have loved too well, if I have shed, In my vain fondness, o'er a mortal head, Gifts on thy shrine, my God! more fitly laid; If I have sought to live But in one light, and made a human eye The lonely star of mine idolatry, Thou that art Love! oh, pity and forgive! Chastened and schooled at last, No more, no more my struggling spirit burns, But, fix'd on Thee, from that wild worship turns -- What have I said? -- the deep dream is not past! Yet hear! -- if still I love, Oh! still too fondly -- if, for ever seen, An earthly image comes my heart between And thy calm glory, Father! throned above; If still a voice is near (E'en while I strive these wanderings to control), An earthly voice disquieting my soul With its deep music, too intensely dear; O Father! draw to Thee My lost affections back! -- the dreaming eyes Clear from their mist -- sustain the heart that dies, Give the worn soul once more its pinions free! I must love on, O God! This bosom must love on! -- but let thy breath Touch and make pure the flame that knows not death, Bearing it up to heaven -- love's own abode! Ages and ages past, the wilderness, With its dark cedars, and the thrilling night, With her clear stars, and the mysterious winds, That waft all sound, were conscious of those prayers. How many such hath woman's bursting heart Since then, in silence and in darkness breathed, Like the dim night-flower's odour, up to God! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN LISTEN, LORD: A PRAYER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON A PRAYER FOR THE FUTURE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) DIFFERENT WAYS TO PRAY by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE PRAYER DURING A TIME MY SON IS HAVING SEIZURES by SHARON OLDS WE WHO PRAYED AND WEPT by WENDELL BERRY PRAYERS AND SAYINGS OF THE MAD FARMER by WENDELL BERRY A DIRGE (1) by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS |
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