Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SABBATH, by NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SABBATH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was a pleasant morning, in the time
Last Line: How holy was the sabbath-day of god.
Subject(s): Sabbath; Sunday


IT was a pleasant morning, in the time
When the leaves fall -- and the bright sun shone out
As when the morning stars first sang together --
So quietly and calmly fell his light
Upon a world at rest. There was no leaf
In motion, and the loud winds slept, and all
Was still. The lab'ring herd was grazing
Upon the hill-side quietly -- uncall'd
By the harsh voice of man; and distant sound,
Save from the murmuring waterfall, came not
As usual on the ear. One hour stole on,
And then another of the morning, calm
And still as Eden ere the birth of man.
And then broke in the Sabbath chime of bells --
And the old man, and his descendants, went
Together to the house of God. I join'd
The well-apparell'd crowd. The holy man
Rose solemnly, and breathed the prayer of faith --
And the gray saint, just on the wing for heaven --
And the fair maid -- and the bright-hair'd young man --
And child of curling locks, just taught to close
The lash of its blue eye the while; -- all knelt
In attitude of prayer -- and then the hymn,
Sincere in its low melody, went up
To worship God.
The white-hair'd pastor rose
And look'd upon his flock -- and with an eye
That told his interest, and voice that spoke
In tremulous accents, eloquence like Paul's,
He lent Isaiah's fire to the truths
Of revelation, and persuasion came
Like gushing waters from his lips, till hearts
Unused to bend were soften'd, and the eye
Unwont to weep sent forth the willing tear.

I went my way -- but as I went, I thought
How holy was the Sabbath-day of God.





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