Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OUR LIFE IS LONG, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OUR LIFE IS LONG, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Our life is long. Not so, wise angels say
Last Line: That where thou art, there thy beloved might be.
Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina


Our life is long. Not so, wise Angels say
Who watch us waste it, trembling while they weigh
Against eternity one squandered day.

Our life is long. Not so, the Saints protest,
Filled full of consolation and of rest:
"Short ill, long good, one long unending best."

Our life is long. Christ's word sounds different:
"Night cometh: no more work when day is spent.
Repent and work today, work and repent."

Lord, make us like Thy Host who day nor night
Rest not from adoration, their delight,
Crying "Holy, Holy, Holy," in the height.

Lord, make us like Thy Saints who wait and long
Contented: bound in hope and freed from wrong
They speed (may be) their vigil with a song.

Lord, make us like Thyself: for thirty-three
Slow years of toil seemed not too long to Thee,
That where Thou art, there Thy Beloved might be.





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