Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A GLEN AMONG THE HILLS, by JAMES NICHOLSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A GLEN AMONG THE HILLS, by                    
First Line: The sun had roll'd behind the western wave
Last Line: His presence shed at midnight on the hills.
Subject(s): God; Religion; Theology


THE sun had roll'd behind the western wave,
Leaving behind a track of golden spray;
Soft evening crept around us silent, save
The tide that lapsing left the sandy bay.

'Twas God's sweet sabbath: we had spent it well,
Not worshipping, as wont, in cushion'd pew,
But far away within a Highland dell,
Where purple heath and azure hare-bells grew.

'Mid rocks fantastic, where white cascades dash'd,
Leaping from caves their winter floods had made,
To foamy ire their tortur'd waters lash'd,
Till lost in depths where agile minnows play'd.

Like a great chalice in the hand of God,
That grand old glen brimm'd o'er with joyous light;
On high the clouds like glowing chariots rode,
Flecking with shade each hill and mountain height.

Who would not worship God in such a place?
To us it seem'd a glimpse of paradise,
Where silent joy lit up each flow'ret's face,
While love shone through the dew-gems in their eyes.

Such was the day; more beauteous still the night
Crept dreamily o'er moorland, field, and fell,
While softly dawn'd from heaven a holier light
Above the hills that hid our Highland dell.

'Twas not the shifting pale Aurora light,
Nor the red radiance of the planet Mars --
The soft effulgence of the Queen of Night,
Nor yet the dewy lustre of the stars.

Ah no! it made the star-lamps twinkle dim,
Deep'ning the shades that lay on tower and tree,
While rose the mountain ridge clear-cut and grim
Like some huge monster stranded 'mid the sea.

We sat and gaz'd with longing earnest eyes
Along the line of soft celestial light,
As if awaiting, from the silent skies
Reveal'd, some wondrous vision of the night.

We seem'd to feel on the surrounding air
The tread of angels -- felt their presence near;
The heavens seem'd wrapt in ecstasy of prayer,
The glittering star-worlds blending sphere with sphere.

Such blissful sights and scenes to mortal eyes
May well compensate for life's countless ills;
God grant to each the power to realise
His presence shed at midnight on the hills.





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