Majestas Populi
Majesty of the nature of man! In crowds shall I seek thee?
'Tis with only a few that thou hast made thine abode.
Only a few ever count; the rest are but blanks of no value,
And the prizes are hid 'neath the vain stir that they make.
poem by Friedrich Schiller
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To Henry, Written to a Russian Air
How I hail this morn's appearing!
It will thee, my love, restore:
Safety danger past endearing,
Sure we meet to part no more!
Fame is thine, lo! crowds aver it,
And her smile is dear to thee;
But I charge thee, don't prefer it
E'er again to home and me.
Thou, thy country's call obeying,
Hast her battles nobly fought;
And, thy ready zeal repaying,
See, she gives the laurels sought.
But have I no claims, my rover?
Claims as fondly dear to thee?
Yes, O yes! and, wandering over,
Thou wilt rest with love and me.
Ha! methinks, thy glances reading,
From thine eyes my fate I know;
Duty still love's claim impeding,
Thou again must seek the foe.
Of my fears too dread revival!
Yet, with tearful joy I see,
Duty is the only rival
Potent over love and me.
poem by Amelia Opie
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In Memoriam A. H. H.: The Prelude
Strong Son of God, immortal Love,
Whom we, that have not seen thy face,
By faith, and faith alone, embrace,
Believing where we cannot prove;
Thine are these orbs of light and shade;
Thou madest Life in man and brute;
Thou madest Death; and lo, thy foot
Is on the skull which thou hast made.
Thou wilt not leave us in the dust:
Thou madest man, he knows not why,
He thinks he was not made to die;
And thou hast made him: thou art just.
Thou seemest human and divine,
The highest, holiest manhood, thou.
Our wills are ours, we know not how,
Our wills are ours, to make them thine.
Our little systems have their day;
They have their day and cease to be:
They are but broken lights of thee,
And thou, O Lord, art more than they.
We have but faith: we cannot know;
For knowledge is of things we see;
And yet we trust it comes from thee,
A beam in darkness: let it grow.
Let knowledge grow from more to more,
But more of reverence in us dwell;
That mind and soul, according well,
May make one music as before,
But vaster. We are fools and slight;
We mock thee when we do not fear:
But help thy foolish ones to bear;
Help thy vain worlds to bear thy light.
Forgive what seem'd my sin in me,
What seem'd my worth since I began;
For merit lives from man to man,
And not from man, O Lord, to thee.
Forgive my grief for one removed,
Thy creature, whom I found so fair.
I trust he lives in thee, and there
I find him worthier to be loved.
Forgive these wild and wandering cries,
Confusions of a wasted youth;
Forgive them where they fail in truth,
And in thy wisdom make me wise.
poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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In Memoriam A. H. H.: Preface
Strong Son of God, immortal Love,
Whom we, that have not seen thy face,
By faith, and faith alone, embrace,
Believing where we cannot prove;
Thine are these orbs of light and shade;
Thou madest Life in man and brute;
Thou madest Death; and lo, thy foot
Is on the skull which thou hast made.
Thou wilt not leave us in the dust:
Thou madest man, he knows not why,
He thinks he was not made to die;
And thou hast made him: thou art just.
Thou seemest human and divine,
The highest, holiest manhood, thou.
Our wills are ours, we know not how,
Our wills are ours, to make them thine.
Our little systems have their day;
They have their day and cease to be:
They are but broken lights of thee,
And thou, O Lord, art more than they.
We have but faith: we cannot know;
For knowledge is of things we see;
And yet we trust it comes from thee,
A beam in darkness: let it grow.
Let knowledge grow from more to more,
But more of reverence in us dwell;
That mind and soul, according well,
May make one music as before,
But vaster. We are fools and slight;
We mock thee when we do not fear:
But help thy foolish ones to bear;
Help thy vain worlds to bear thy light.
Forgive what seem'd my sin in me,
What seem'd my worth since I began;
For merit lives from man to man,
And not from man, O Lord, to thee.
Forgive my grief for one removed,
Thy creature, whom I found so fair.
I trust he lives in thee, and there
I find him worthier to be loved.
Forgive these wild and wandering cries,
Confusions of a wasted youth;
Forgive them where they fail in truth,
And in thy wisdom make me wise.
poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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On Hearing The Princess Royal Sing
In thine abode so high
Where yet one scarce can breathe,
Dear child, most tenderly
A soft song thou dost wreathe.
Thou singest, little girl--
Thy sire, the King is he:
Around thee glories whirl,
But all things sigh in thee.
Thy thought may seek not wings
Of speech; dear love's forbidden;
Thy smiles, those heavenly things,
Being faintly born, are chidden.
Thou feel'st, poor little Bride,
A hand unknown and chill
Clasp thine from out the wide
Deep shade so deathly still.
Thy sad heart, wingless, weak,
Is sunk in this black shade
So deep, thy small hands seek,
Vainly, the pulse God made.
Thou art yet but highness, thou
That shaft be majesty:
Though still on thy fair brow
Some faint dawn-flush may be,
Child, unto armies dear,
Even now we mark heaven's light
Dimmed with the fume and fear
And glory of battle-might.
Thy godfather is he,
Earth's Pope,--he hails thee, child!
Passing, armed men you see
Like unarmed women, mild.
As saint all worship thee;
Thyself even hast the strong
Thrill of divinity
Mingled with thy small song.
Each grand old warrior
Guards thee, submissive, proud;
Mute thunders at thy door
Sleep, that shall wake most loud.
Around thee foams the wild
Bright sea, the lot of kings.
Happier wert thou, my child,
I' the woods a bird that sings!
poem by Victor Hugo
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Holy Sonnet II: As Due By Many Titles I Resign
As due by many titles I resign
My self to Thee, O God; first I was made
By Thee, and for Thee, and when I was decayed
Thy blood bought that, the which before was Thine;
I am Thy son, made with Thy Self to shine,
Thy servant, whose pains Thou hast still repaid,
Thy sheep, thine image, and, till I betrayed
My self, a temple of Thy Spirit divine;
Why doth the devil then usurp on me?
Why doth he steal, nay ravish that's thy right?
Except thou rise and for thine own work fight,
Oh I shall soon despair, when I do see
That thou lov'st mankind well, yet wilt not choose me,
And Satan hates me, yet is loth to lose me.
poem by John Donne
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Perumaal 55-60
It was where against Saraswathi
Fought Thee, vanquished Her sent demons
Bloodstained stood Thee where valorously coral
Pavalavalli where with Thee bestowing
To Thou abode that of ThiruPavalaVannam
That befriends PachaiVannan opposite
Hey PavalaVanna, vision, I surrender
56 The decline of Pallavas where Thee revived
Blessed with heir Parameshwara Thine
Then to be domiciled wherefrom Paramapadam
Where with Vaikuntavalli Thee blessing
To Thou abode that of ThiruParameshwaraVinNagaram
That chronicles an aeonian name Sarpa Kshetram
Hey ParamapadaNatha, vision, I surrender
57 Jataayu's end where commiserated by high norms
Created where thence Thee JataayuTheertham
YadavaPrakasa tutored Ramanuja whereat of Advaita
Maragathavalli where with Thee favouring
To Thou abode that of ThiruPutKuzhi
That in espousing alliance with Thee Thirumangai
Hey VijayaRaghava, vision, I surrender
58 Speciality was Thine and Thine split many personae
One such awaited where Mangai's paasuram
Discontent where then for more Piraatti wished
Where with Sudhavalli Thee gracing
To Thou abode that of ThiruNindravoor
That holds for SamudraRaja Thine wedded ataraxia
Hey Bhaktavatsala, Badraavi, vision, I surrender
59 Satiated Thee with Chalihotra's hospitability
Thence where Thee stayed on to bless
Penanced Vasumathi where to wed Thee
Kanakavalli where with Thee blessing
To Thou abode that of Thiruvalloor
That accounts Thine curative Quality
Hey VaidyaVeeraRagava, vision, I surrender
60 For king Sumathi wherefrom Venkatadri victorious
At Brindaaranyam where for Aathreya too
As for Arjuna appeared Thee as ParthaSarathi
Where with Vedavalli Thee favouring
To Thou abode that of Thiruvallikeni
That blooms plentitude in Thine lotus presence
Hey VenkataKrishna, Parthasarathi, vision, I surrender
poem by Indira Renganathan
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Perumaal 37-42
37 Where from Kanchi descended Thee
Thou abode where Thine shrine bell shaped
As VaradaRaja where Shiva visioned Thee
Thirumagal where with Thee bestowing
To Thou abode that of Thirumanikoodam
That in pasurans praises Thee Thirumangai
Hey GajendraVarada, VaradaRaja, vision, I surrender
38 Blessed Swethan where Thee with immortality
'Annaa' to Thiruvenkatam where Thirumangai greets
Kumudavalli where consorted with Thirumangai
Where with Alarmelmangai Thee gracing
To Thou abode that of Thiruvellakulam
That stands causal for its pristine tank
Hey Annan Perumaal, vision, I surrender
39 Varuna relieved where of a curse
Blessed Thee Arjuna where for water
Thirumangai heightens where Thee as Thaamaraial Kelvan
ThaamaraiNayaki where with Thee blessing
To Thou abode that of ThiruPaarthanpalli
That holds in from warfield Thine Paarthasarathy
Hey LakshmiRanga, vision I surrender
40 Where on Brahma's plea Thee judged
Siva-Paarvathi dance at Thine Chitrakootam
Boarded where then Thee at Thillaivanam
Where with PundareekavalliThee favouring
To Thou abode that of Chidambaram
That demon-daughters chilli, Thilli where keep vigil
Hey GovindaRaja, vision, I surrender
41 Indran where Thee blessed with vajrayudha
Adisesha seismic where for Thee dredged up water
Garuda where for Thee brought in river Vaikunta-Viraja
Bhargavi where with Thee bestowing
To Thou abode that of Thiruvahindrapuram
That at Aushadagiri bears Thine Hayagreeva
Hey DeivaNayaka, vision, I surrender
42 Yugas earlier where Thine Gopal dwelt
Vaamana, Thrivikrama where Thee blessed Mahabali
Vaamana, Thrivikrama where Thee blessed Mrikandu Muni
Where with PushpavalliThee blessing
To Thou abode that of Thirukkovaloor
That extole Thine Vaamana, Thrivikrama, Mudal Alwars
Hey Thrivikrama, vision, I surrender
poem by Indira Renganathan
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The Clay
Thou shalt do what Thou wilt with thine own hand,
Thou form'st the spirit like the moulded clay;
For those who love Thee keep thy just command,
And in thine image grow as they obey;
New tints and forms with every hour they take
Whose life is fashioned by thy spirit's power;
The crimson dawn is round them when they wake,
And golden triumphs wait the evening hour;
The queenly-sceptred night their souls receives,
And spreads their pillows 'neath her sable tent;
Above them Sleep their palm with poppy weaves,
Sweet rest Thou hast to all who labor lent;
That they may rise refreshed to light again
And with Thee gather in the whitening grain.
poem by Jones Very
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We Sing to Thee, Thou Son of God
We sing to Thee, Thou Son of God,
Fountain of life and grace;
We praise Thee, Son of Man, whose blood
Redeemed our fallen race.
Thee we acknowledge God and Lord,
The Lamb for sinners slain;
Who art by heaven and earth adored,
Worthy o'er both to reign.
To Thee all angels cry aloud,
Through heaven's extended coasts: -
Hail! holy, holy, holy Lord
Of glory and of hosts.
The cherubim and seraphim
Incessant sing to Thee;
The worlds and all the powers therein
Adore Thy majesty.
The prophets' goodly fellowship,
In radiant garments dressed,
Praise Thee, Thou Son of God, and reap
The fulness of Thy rest.
The apostles' glorious company
Thy righteous praise proclaim:
The martyred army glorify
Thine everlasting name.
Through all the world, Thy churches join
To call on Thee their Head,
Brightness of majesty Divine,
Who every power hast made.
Among their number, Lord, we love
To sing Thy precious blood.
Reign here, and in the worlds above,
Thou Holy Lamb of God!
poem by Augustus Montague Toplady
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Holy Sonnet 2
As due by many titles I resign
Myself to thee, O God, first I was made
By Thee, and for Thee, and when I was decay'd
Thy blood bought that, the which before was Thine.
I am Thy son, made with Thyself to shine,
Thy servant, whose pains Thou hast still repaid,
Thy sheep, Thine image, and—till I betray'd
Myself—a temple of Thy Spirit divine.
Why doth the devil then usurp on me?
Why doth he steal, nay ravish, that's Thy right?
Except Thou rise and for Thine own work fight,
O! I shall soon despair, when I shall see
That Thou lovest mankind well, yet wilt not choose me,
And Satan hates me, yet is loth to lose me.
poem by John Donne from Holy Sonnets
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Holy Sonnet II: As Due by Many Titles
As due by many titles I resigne
My selfe to thee, O God, first I was made
By thee, and for thee, and when I was decay'd
Thy blood bought that, the which before was thine;
I am thy sonne, made with thy selfe to shine,
Thy servant, whose paines thou hast still repaid,
Thy sheepe, thine Image, and, till I betray'd
My selfe, a temple of thy Spirit divine;
Why doth the devill then usurpe on mee?
Why doth he steale, nay ravish that's thy right?
Except thou rise and for thine own worke fight,
Oh I shall soone despaire, when I doe see
That thou lov'st mankind well, yet wilt'not chuse me,
And Satan hates mee, yet is loth to lose me.
poem by John Donne
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Dies Irae
On that great, that awful day,
This vain world shall pass away.
Thus the sibyl sang of old,
Thus hath holy David told.
There shall be a deadly fear
When the Avenger shall appear,
And unveiled before his eye
All the works of man shall lie.
Hark! to the great trumpet's tones
Pealing o'er the place of bones:
Hark! it waketh from their bed
All the nations of the dead,--
In a countless throng to meet,
At the eternal judgment seat.
Nature sickens with dismay,
Death may not retain its prey;
And before the Maker stand
All the creatures of his hand.
The great book shall be unfurled,
Whereby God shall judge the world;
What was distant shall be near,
What was hidden shall be clear.
To what shelter shall I fly?
To what guardian shall I cry?
Oh, in that destroying hour,
Source of goodness, Source of power,
Show thou, of thine own free grace,
Help unto a helpless race.
Though I plead not at thy throne
Aught that I for thee have done,
Do not thou unmindful be,
Of what thou hast borne for me:
Of the wandering, of the scorn,
Of the scourge, and of the thorn.
Jesus, hast thou borne the pain,
And hath all been borne in vain?
Shall thy vengeance smite the head
For whose ransom thou hast bled?
Thou, whose dying blessing gave
Glory to a guilty slave:
Thou, who from the crew unclean
Didst release the Magdalene:
Shall not mercy vast and free,
Evermore be found in thee?
Father, turn on me thine eyes,
See my blushes, hear my cries;
Faint though be the cries I make,
Save me for thy mercy's sake,
From the worm, and from the fire,
From the torments of thine ire.
Fold me with the sheep that stand
Pure and safe at thy right hand.
Hear thy guilty child implore thee,
Rolling in the dust before thee.
Oh the horrors of that day!
When this frame of sinful clay,
Starting from its burial place,
Must behold thee face to face.
Hear and pity, hear and aid,
Spare the creatures thou hast made.
Mercy, mercy, save, forgive,
Oh, who shall look on thee and live?
poem by Thomas Babbington Macaulay
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Perumaal 61-66
61 Self manifested where sacred Thee art
Valmiki where visioned Thine Neervannan
Despite moating rain diligent Mangai where visioned Thee
Animamalarmangai where with Thee bestowing
To Thou abode that of Thiruneermalai
That accolades Neervannan, Neermukhilvannan, Ranganathan
Hey ShantaNarasimha, Thrivikrama, vision, I surrender
62 A girl per day where married Thee of Kaalavarishi
Three hundred and sixty girls in a year after
Compended then where as one Lakshmi
Where with Komalavalli Thee blessing
To Thou abode that of Thiruvidanthai
That atones where of Bali's killing of Devas
Hey LakshmiVaraha, Nithyakalyana, vision, I surrender
63 His path for ParamapadaNatha ocean-blockaded
Pundarika's devout folly where of hand-dredging ocean
Thee rushed where to bless, then to embed there on
Nilamangai where with Thee gracing
To Thou abode that of Thirukadanmallai(Mamallapuram)
That bore Thine child Bhuthathalwar
Hey Sthalasayana, vision.I surrender
64 RishiVamadeva where with saptha-rishis
To vision Thine Narasimha longed like Vishvamitra
As for Vishvamitra where Thee blessed in one kadikai
Where with Amrithavalli Thee favouring
To Thou abode that of Cholasimmapuram(Thirukadikai)
That is honoured with Thine Yoga Anjaneya
Hey YogaNarasimha, vision.I surrender
65 His craving piety where for more lotuses
Gajendra got where Lakshmi's share too
Blessed him then where Thee with Lakshmi worshipped
Malarmelmangai where with Thee bestowing
To Thou abode that of Thirunavaay
That breathe Thine fragrance nine yogis
Hey Navaay Mukunda, Narayana, vision, I surrender
66 Serene river Neela where Pandavas captured of
Stayed on where to worship Thine Vishnu
Ambarisha's Paramapadanathas where erstwhile encircled
Where with Padmasini Thee blessing
To Thou abode that of Thiruvithuvakkodu
That decrees Thine Kulasekhara's devotion
Hey Abhayaprada, vision, I surrender
poem by Indira Renganathan
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Perumaal 49-54
49 Enraged Shiva where disuaded Parvathi's penance
Burnt Her mango tree, sent the wrecking Ganga,
Done away but by Thee where all obstructions
NerOruvarillaValli where with Thee bestowing
To Thou abode that of ThiruNilaThingalThundam
That united Shiva-Parvathi Thou moonlit charm
Hey Chandrachuda, vision, I surrender
50 Head stamped down by Thine feet under earth
Mahabali where wished for Thine Thrivikrama
And Thee where blessed him as Thrivikrama
Where with Amudavalli Thee blessing
To Thou abode that of ThiruOoragam
That by Thirumangai sings Thine names Empiratti
Hey Ulagalanda Perumaal.vision, I surrender
51 Rampant Vegavathy where obstructed Brahma's yajna
Bridged Thyself laid where then Saraswathi(Vegavathy) receded
Adisesha's hood where rolled, spread for Thirumazhisai, KaniKannan
Komalavalli where with Thee gracing
To Thou abode that of Thiruvekka
That sings Thee lotus-born Poikaialwar
Hey Yadothakari, vision, I surrender
52 Penanced where Kaarha Rishi for Thee
Thou immense beneficence where blessed him
And wherefrom Thou effulging mercy enlightening
Where with Padmamani Thee favouring
To Thou abode that of Thirukkaaragam
That dwells in the abode of Ulagalandan
Hey Karunakara, vision, I surrender
53 Mercy Thine where on par with heavenly Maayavan
Maayavan Thine whereat heavenly merciful
Descended so wherefrom providence Maayavan Thee
Thaamaraiaal where with Thee bestowing
To Thou abode that of Thirukkaarvaanam
That praises Thou benevolent heart Thirumangai
Hey Kalva, vision, I surrender
54 Kamakshi whereat mercified by Thou mercy
Overheard whereat Thee Kamakshi-Lakshmi's talks
Kamakshi whereso accosted Thee 'Kalva'
Where with Anjilaivalli Thee blessing
To Thou abode that of Thirukkalvanoor
That sings Thee nomenclatural Thirumangai
Hey Adivaraha Perumaal, vision, I surrender
poem by Indira Renganathan
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Will Ye Also Go Away?
When any turn from Zion's way,
(Alas! what numbers do!)
Methinks I hear my Saviour say,
Wilt thou forsake me too?
Ah Lord! with such a heart as mine,
Unless thou hold me fast;
I feel I must, I shall decline,
And prove like them at last.
Yet thou alone hast pow'r, I know,
To save a wretch like me;
To whom, or whither, could I go,
If I should turn from thee?
Beyond a doubt I rest assured
Thou art the Christ of God;
Who hast eternal life secured
By promise and by blood.
The help of men and angels joined,
Could never reach my case;
Nor can I hope relief to find,
But in thy boundless grace.
No voice but thine can give me rest,
And bid my fears depart;
No love but thine can make me blest,
And satisfy my heart.
What anguish has that question stirred,
If I will also go?
Yet, Lord, relying on thy word,
I humbly answer, No!
poem by John Newton
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Perumaal91-96
91 Penancing Dharmadev where visioned Thee
Thereon where built Thine abode Vishvakarma
Thine golden beauty where adores NoopuraGangai
Sundaravalli where with Thee gracing
To Thou abode that of Thirumaliruncholai(Azhagar Malai)
That in appraisal versifies where Andaal handsome Thee
Hey Paramaswami, vision, I surrender
92Deceived Asuras where Thine Mohini
Nectar-droplets where fell to sanctify
Thine Matsya where retrieved Brahma's veda-codices
Where with Mohanavalli Thee favouring
To Thou abode that of ThiruMohoor
That staunch Brahma where worshipped Thee gratefully
Hey Kaalamega Perumaal, vision, I surrender
93 Kadamba Rishi penanced where to vision Thee
Brahma, Indra where gifted Kadamba Thine images
Mayan and Vishvakarma where built Thine abode
Thirumamagal where with Thee bestowing
To Thou abode that of Thirukoshtiyoor
That Narayana mantra where atop Ramanuja preached
Hey, Uragamellanaiyan, vision, I surrender
94 Dhasaratha penanced where for a child
Imploring on ocean farther where Rama to Varuna pleaded
On Dharbasayanam where penanced Rama for Sita
Where with Kalyanavalli, Padmasini Thee blessing
To Thou abode that of Thirupullani
That descended Thee where for Kalava, Kanva, Pullava rishis
Hey, AdiJagannath, vision, I surrender
95 Where for satvaguna blessed Adiseshan penanced
Rishi Athri's son where for Thine grace penanced
Penancing Satyarishi awaiting where after Thee blessed
Uyyavantha Thaayaar where with Thee gracing
To Thou abode that of ThiruMeyyam
That Pururuva too where Thee blessed
Hey Satyagirinatha, vision, I surrender
96 Fish-shaped such that land where from Vaikunta gifted
Manu whereatSarayu-bank founded then
Worshipped Pallikondanathan where Ikshvakus generationally
Where with Sitapiratti Thee favouring
To Thou abode that of ThiruAyodhi
That Kulasekhara fondly where sings Thee
Hey SriRama, vision, I surrender
poem by Indira Renganathan
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Absolution II
UNBIND thine eyes, with thine own soul confer,
Look on the sins that made thy life unclean,
Behold how poor thy vaunted virtues were,
How weak thy faith, thy deeds how small and mean,
How far from thy high dreams thy life hath been,
How poor thy use of all thou hast received,
How little of all God's glory thou hast seen,
How misconstrued that which thou hast perceived.
Turn not thine eyes away from thine unworth,
The cup of shame drink to the bitter lees;
And when thou art lowered to the least on earth,
And in the dust makest common cause with these,
Then shall kind arms enfold thee, bringing peace,
The Earth, thy Mother, shall assuage thy pain,
Her woods and fields, Her quiet streams and seas
Shall touch thy soul, and make thee whole again.
But if thy heart holds fast one secret sin,
If one vile script thy soul shrinks to erase,
The mighty Mother cannot bring thee in
Unto the happy, holy, healing place;
But thou shalt weep in darkness, out of grace,
And miss the light of beauty undefiled;
For he who would behold Her, face to face,
Must be in spirit as a little child.
poem by Edith Nesbit
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Sweet empty sky of June without a stain,
O Lord, the hope of Israel, all they that forsake
Thee shall be ashamed ; and they that depart from
Thee, shall be written in the earth, because they have
forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed ; save me,
and I shall be saved, for Thou art my health, and my
great deliverer.
I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to
the gates of the grave ; I have deprived myself of the
residue of my years.
I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord in the
land of the living : I shall behold man no more with
the inhabitants of the world.
O Lord ! by Thee doth man live, and from Thee is
the life of my spirit : therefore wilt Thou recover me,
and make me to live.
Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the
pit of corruption ; for Thou hast cast all my sins
behind Thy back.
For Thy name's sake hast Thou put off thine anger ;
for Thy praise hast Thou refrained from me, that I
should not be cut off.
For the grave cannot praise Thee, death cannot
celebrate Thee : they that go down into the pit, cannot
hope for Thy truth.
The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do
this day : the father to the children shall make known
Thy truth.
O Lord ! Thou hast been merciful, Thou hast
brought back my life from corruption : Thou hast
redeemed me from my sin.
They that follow after lying vanities, forsake their
own mercy.
Therefore shall Thy songs be with me, and my
prayer unto the God of my life.
I will go unto the altar of my God, unto God, the
joy of my youth ; and in Thy fear will I worship
towards Thy holy temple.
I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of thanks-
giving ; I will pay that which I have vowed ; sal-
vation is of the Lord.
poem by Henry Vaughan
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Onward
Have the blasts of sorrow worn thee,
Have the rocks of danger torn thee,
And thus shifted, wreck-like drifted,
Wouldst thou find a port in time?
Vain the quest! That word sublime—
God’s great one word,
Silent never, pealeth ever,
Onward!
Hast thou done all loving duty,
Hast thou clothed thy soul with beauty,
And wouldst rest then, wholly blest then,
In some sunny lapse of time?
Vain the hope! The word sublime—
God’s great one word,
Silent never, pealeth ever,
Onward!
Hast thou won the heart of glory,
Hast thou charmed the tongue of story,
And wouldst pause then for applause then,
Underneath the stars of time?
Vain the lure! That word sublime—
God’s great one word,
Silent never, pealeth ever,
Onward!
Truth and virtue hast thou wrought for,
Faith and freedom hast thou fought for,
And then shrinkest for thou thinkest
Paid is all thy debt in time?
Vain the thought! That word sublime—
God’s great one word,
Silent never, pealeth ever,
Onward!
From endeavour to endeavour,
Journeying with hours for ever,
Or aspiring, or acquiring
This, O man, is life in time,
Urged by that primal word sublime—
God’s great one word,
Silent never, pealeth ever,
Onward!
poem by Charles Harpur
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The Snayl
Wise emblem of our politick world,
Sage Snayl, within thine own self curl'd,
Instruct me softly to make hast,
Whilst these my feet go slowly fast.
Compendious Snayl! thou seem'st to me
Large Euclid's strict epitome;
And in each diagram dost fling
Thee from the point unto the ring.
A figure now trianglare,
An oval now, and now a square,
And then a serpentine, dost crawl,
Now a straight line, now crook'd, now all.
Preventing rival of the day,
Th' art up and openest thy ray;
And ere the morn cradles the moon,
Th' art broke into a beauteous noon.
Then, when the Sun sups in the deep,
Thy silver horns e're Cinthia's peep;
And thou, from thine own liquid bed,
New Phoebus, heav'st thy pleasant head.
Who shall a name for thee create,
Deep riddle of mysterious state?
Bold Nature, that gives common birth
To all products of seas and earth,
Of thee, as earth-quakes, is afraid,
Nor will thy dire deliv'ry aid.
Thou, thine own daughter, then, and sire,
That son and mother art intire,
That big still with thy self dost go,
And liv'st an aged embrio;
That like the cubbs of India,
Thou from thy self a while dost play;
But frighted with a dog or gun,
In thine own belly thou dost run,
And as thy house was thine own womb,
So thine own womb concludes thy tomb.
But now I must (analys'd king)
Thy oeconomick virtues sing;
Thou great stay'd husband still within,
Thou thee that's thine dost discipline;
And when thou art to progress bent,
Thou mov'st thy self and tenement,
As warlike Scythians travayl'd, you
Remove your men and city too;
Then, after a sad dearth and rain,
Thou scatterest thy silver train;
And when the trees grow nak'd and old,
Thou cloathest them with cloth of gold,
Which from thy bowels thou dost spin,
And draw from the rich mines within.
Now hast thou chang'd thee, saint, and made
Thy self a fane that's cupula'd;
And in thy wreathed cloister thou
Walkest thine own gray fryer too;
Strickt and lock'd up, th'art hood all ore,
And ne'r eliminat'st thy dore.
On sallads thou dost feed severe,
And 'stead of beads thou drop'st a tear,
And when to rest each calls the bell,
Thou sleep'st within thy marble cell,
Where, in dark contemplation plac'd,
The sweets of Nature thou dost tast,
Who now with time thy days resolve,
And in a jelly thee dissolve,
Like a shot star, which doth repair
Upward, and rarifie the air.
poem by Richard Lovelace
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