Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ASCENSION HYMN, by HENRY VAUGHAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Dust and clay Last Line: Make clay ascend more quick than light. Alternate Author Name(s): Silurist | ||||||||
Dust and clay Man's ancient wear! Here you must stay, But I elsewhere; Souls sojourn here, but may not rest; Who will ascend, must be undressed. And yet some That know to die Before death come, Walk to the sky Even in this life; but all such can Leave behind them the old Man. If a star Should leave the sphere, She must first mar Her flaming wear, And after fall, for in her dress Of glory, she cannot transgress. Man of old Within the line Of Eden could Like the sun shine All naked, innocent and bright, And intimate with Heav'n, as light; But since he That brightness soiled, His garments be All dark and spoiled, And here are left as nothing worth, Till the Refiner's fire breaks forth. Then comes he! Whose mighty light Made his clothes be Like Heav'n, all bright; The Fuller, whose pure blood did flow To make stained man more white than snow. He alone And none else can Bring bone to bone And rebuild man, And by his all-subduing might Make clay ascend more quick than light. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest... |
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