Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DIMNESS, by JOHN KEBLE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Of the bright things in earth and air Last Line: Thee nigh. | ||||||||
OF the bright things in earth and air How little can the heart embrace! Soft shades and gleaming lights are there -- I know it well, but cannot trace. Mine eye unworthy seems to read One page of Nature's beauteous book: It lies before me, fair outspread -- I only cast a wishful look. I cannot paint to Memory's eye The scene, the glance, I dearest love -- Unchanged themselves, in me they die, Or faint, or false, their shadows prove. In vain, with dull and tuneless ear, I linger by soft music's cell, And in my heart of hearts would hear What to her own she deigns to tell. 'T is misty all, both sight and sound -- I only know 't is fair and sweet -- 'T is wandering on enchanted ground With dizzy brow and tottering feet. But patience! there may come a time When these dull ears shall scan aright Strains, that outring earth's drowsy chime, As heaven outshines the taper's light. These eyes, that dazzled now and weak At glancing motes in sunshine wink, Shall see the King's full glory break, Nor from the blissful vision shrink: Though scarcely now their laggard glance Reach to an arrow's flight, that day They shall behold, and not in trance, The region "very far away." If memory sometimes at our spell Refuse to speak, or speak amiss, We shall not need her where we dwell, Ever in sight of all our bliss. Meanwhile, if over sea or sky, Some tender lights unnoticed fleet, Or on loved features dawn and die, Unread, to us, their lesson sweet; Yet are there saddening sights around, Which heaven, in mercy, spares us too, And we see far in holy ground, If duly purged our mental view. The distant landscape draws not nigh For all our gazing; but the soul, That upward looks, may still descry Nearer, each day, the brightening goal. And thou, too curious ear, that fain Wouldst thread the maze of harmony, Content thee with one simple strain, The lowlier, sure, the worthier thee; Till thou art duly train'd, and taught The concord sweet of love divine: Then, with that inward music fraught, For ever rise, and sing, and shine. Thus bad and good their several warnings give Of His approach, whom none may see and live: Faith's ear, with awful still delight, Counts them like minute bells at night, Keeping the heart awake till dawn of morn, While to her funeral pile this aged world is borne. But what are Heaven's alarms to hearts that cower In wilful slumber, deepening every hour, That draw their curtains closer round, The nearer swells the trumpet's sound? Lord, ere our trembling lamps sink down and die, Touch us with chastening hand, and make us feel Thee nigh. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHAMPIONS OF THE TRUTH by JOHN KEBLE JEREMIAH, THE PATRIOT by JOHN KEBLE |
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