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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SURSUM by LEWIS MORRIS (1833-1907)

First Line: THE ROSE IS SWEET NO MORE,'
Last Line: TURNS TO THE ORIENT AND ACCLAIMS THE LIGHT.

"THE Rose is sweet no more,"
I hear a voice complain;
"The morning-glow of yore
Comes not again.

"No more the sunset skies
Keep their old molten gold;
Life and the world grow cold,"
That sad voice sighs.

But look! Far overhead,
Scarce risen, scarce begun,
In nascent glory spread,
Another sun.
And from the mountain snows, on golden feet,
Life's Lord leaps down, and makes Creation sweet.

And every opening flower
Breathes with a perfumed breath,
Day's new ascending power
Dispelling Death.
And the world, risen from the shame of night,
Turns to the Orient and acclaims the Light.



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