Poems |
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RENASCENCE | ![]() |
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by Edna St. Vincent Millay | ![]() |
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All I could see from where I stood | ![]() |
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Was three long mountains and a wood; | ![]() |
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I turned and looked another way, | ![]() |
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And saw three islands in a bay. | ![]() |
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So with my eyes I traced the line | ![]() |
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Of the horizon, thin and fine, | ![]() |
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Straight around till I was come | ![]() |
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Back to where I'd started from; | ![]() |
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And all I saw from where I stood | ![]() |
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Was three long mountains and a wood. | ![]() |
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Over these things I could not see; | ![]() |
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These were the things that bounded me; | ![]() |
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And I could touch them with my hand, | ![]() |
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Almost, I thought, from where I stand. | ![]() |
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And all at once things seemed so small | ![]() |
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My breath came short, and scarce at all. | ![]() |
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But, sure, the sky is big, I said; | ![]() |
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Miles and miles above my head; | ![]() |
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So here upon my back I'll lie | ![]() |
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And look my fill into the sky. | ![]() |
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And so I looked, and, after all, | ![]() |
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The sky was not so very tall. | ![]() |
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The sky, I said, must somewhere stop, | ![]() |
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And--sure enough!--I see the top! | ![]() |
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The sky, I thought, is not so grand; | ![]() |
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I 'most could touch it with my hand | ![]() |
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And reaching up my hand to try, | ![]() |
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I screamed to feel it touch the sky. | ![]() |
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I screamed, and--lo!--Infinity | ![]() |
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Came down and settled over me; | ![]() |
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Forced back my scream into my chest, | ![]() |
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Bent back my arm upon my breast, | ![]() |
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And, pressing of the Undefined | ![]() |
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The definition on my mind, | ![]() |
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Held up before my eyes a glass | ![]() |
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Through which my shrinking sight did pass | ![]() |
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Until it seemed I must behold | ![]() |
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Immensity made manifold; | ![]() |
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Whispered to me a word whose sound | ![]() |
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Deafened the air for worlds around, | ![]() |
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And brought unmuffled to my ears | ![]() |
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The gossiping of friendly spheres, | ![]() |
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The creaking of the tented sky, | ![]() |
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The ticking of Eternity. | ![]() |
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I saw and heard, and knew at last | ![]() |
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The How and Why of all things, past, | ![]() |
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And present, and forevermore. | ![]() |
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The Universe, cleft to the core, | ![]() |
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Lay open to my probing sense | ![]() |
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That, sick'ning, I would fain pluck thence | ![]() |
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But could not,--nay! But needs must suck | ![]() |
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At the great wound, and could not pluck | ![]() |
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My lips away till I had drawn | ![]() |
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All venom out.--Ah, fearful pawn! | ![]() |
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In infinite remorse of soul. | ![]() |
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All sin was of my sinning, all | ![]() |
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Atoning mine, and mine the gall | ![]() |
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Of all regret. Mine was the weight | ![]() |
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Of every brooded wrong, the hate | ![]() |
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That stood behind each envious thrust, | ![]() |
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Mine every greed, mine every lust. | ![]() |
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And all the while for every grief, | ![]() |
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Each suffering, I craved relief | ![]() |
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With individual desire,-- | ![]() |
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Craved all in vain! And felt fierce fire | ![]() |
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About a thousand people crawl; | ![]() |
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Perished with each,--then mourned for all | ![]() |
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A man was starving in Capri; | ![]() |
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He moved his eyes and looked at me; | ![]() |
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I felt his gaze, I heard his moan, | ![]() |
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And knew his hunger as my own. | ![]() |
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I saw at sea a great fog bank | ![]() |
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Between two ships that struck and sank; | ![]() |
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A thousand screams the heavens smote; | ![]() |
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And every scream tore through my throat. | ![]() |
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No hurt I did not feel, no death | ![]() |
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That was not mine; mine each last breath | ![]() |
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That, crying, met an answering cry | ![]() |
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From the compassion that was I. | ![]() |
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All suffering mine, and mine its rod; | ![]() |
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Mine, pity like the pity of God. | ![]() |
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Ah, awful weight! Infinity | ![]() |
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Pressed down upon the finite Me | ![]() |
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My anguished spirit, like a bird, | ![]() |
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Beating against my lips I heard; | ![]() |
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Yet lay the weight so close about | ![]() |
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There was no room for it without. | ![]() |
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And so beneath the weight lay I | ![]() |
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And suffered death, but could not die. | ![]() |
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Long had I lain thus, craving death, | ![]() |
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When quietly the earth beneath | ![]() |
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Gave way, and inch by inch, so great | ![]() |
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At last had grown the crushing weight, | ![]() |
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Into the earth I sank till I | ![]() |
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Full six feet under ground did lie, | ![]() |
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And sank no more,--there is no weight | ![]() |
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Can follow here, however great. | ![]() |
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From off my breast I felt it roll, | ![]() |
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And as it went my tortured soul | ![]() |
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Burst forth and fled in such a gust | ![]() |
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That all about me swirled the dust. | ![]() |
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Deep in the earth I rested now; | ![]() |
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Cool is its hand upon the brow | ![]() |
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And soft its breast beneath the head | ![]() |
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Of one who is so gladly dead. | ![]() |
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And all at once, and over all | ![]() |
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The pitying rain began to fall; | ![]() |
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I lay and heard each pattering hoof | ![]() |
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Upon my lowly, thatched roof, | ![]() |
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And seemed to love the sound far more | ![]() |
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Than ever I had done before. | ![]() |
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For rain it hath a friendly sound | ![]() |
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To one who's six feet underground; | ![]() |
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And scarce the friendly voice or face: | ![]() |
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A grave is such a quiet place. | ![]() |
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The rain, I said, is kind to come | ![]() |
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And speak to me in my new home. | ![]() |
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I would I were alive again | ![]() |
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To kiss the fingers of the rain, | ![]() |
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To drink into my eyes the shine | ![]() |
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Of every slanting silver line, | ![]() |
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To catch the freshened, fragrant breeze | ![]() |
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From drenched and dripping apple-trees. | ![]() |
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For soon the shower will be done, | ![]() |
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And then the broad face of the sun | ![]() |
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Will laugh above the rain-soaked earth | ![]() |
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Until the world with answering mirth | ![]() |
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Shakes joyously, and each round drop | ![]() |
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Rolls, twinkling, from its grass-blade top. | ![]() |
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How can I bear it; buried here, | ![]() |
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While overhead the sky grows clear | ![]() |
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And blue again after the storm? | ![]() |
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O, multi-colored, multiform, | ![]() |
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Beloved beauty over me, | ![]() |
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That I shall never, never see | ![]() |
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Again! Spring-silver, autumn-gold, | ![]() |
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That I shall never more behold! | ![]() |
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Sleeping your myriad magics through, | ![]() |
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Close-sepulchred away from you! | ![]() |
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O God, I cried, give me new birth, | ![]() |
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And put me back upon the earth! | ![]() |
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Upset each clouds gigantic gourd | ![]() |
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And let the heavy rain, down-poured | ![]() |
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In one big torrent, set me free, | ![]() |
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Washing my grave away from me! | ![]() |
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I ceased; and through the breathless hush | ![]() |
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That answered me, the far-off rush | ![]() |
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Of herald wings came whispering | ![]() |
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Like music down the vibrant string | ![]() |
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Of my ascending prayer, and--crash! | ![]() |
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Before the wild wind's whistling lash | ![]() |
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The startled storm-clouds reared on high | ![]() |
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And plunged in terror down the sky, | ![]() |
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And the big rain in one black wave | ![]() |
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Fell from the sky and struck my grave. | ![]() |
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I know not how such things can be; | ![]() |
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I only know there came to me | ![]() |
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A fragrance such as never clings | ![]() |
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To aught save happy living things; | ![]() |
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A sound as of some joyous elf | ![]() |
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Singing sweet songs to please himself, | ![]() |
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And, through and over everything, | ![]() |
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A sense of glad awakening. | ![]() |
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The grass, a-tiptoe at my ear, | ![]() |
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Whispering to me I could hear; | ![]() |
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I felt the rain's cool finger-tips | ![]() |
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Brushed tenderly across my lips, | ![]() |
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Laid gently on my sealed sight, | ![]() |
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And all at once the heavy night | ![]() |
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Fell from my eyes and I could see,-- | ![]() |
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A drenched and dripping apple-tree, | ![]() |
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A last long line of silver rain, | ![]() |
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A sky grown clear and blue again. | ![]() |
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And as I looked a quickening gust | ![]() |
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Of wind blew up to me and thrust | ![]() |
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Into my face a miracle | ![]() |
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Of orchard-breath, and with the smell,-- | ![]() |
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I know not how such things can be!-- | ![]() |
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I breathed my soul back into me. | ![]() |
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Ah! Up then from the ground sprang I | ![]() |
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And hailed the earth with such a cry | ![]() |
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As is not heard save from a man | ![]() |
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Who has been dead, and lives again. | ![]() |
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About the trees my arms I wound; | ![]() |
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Like one gone mad I hugged the ground; | ![]() |
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I raised my quivering arms on high; | ![]() |
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I laughed and laughed into the sky, | ![]() |
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Till at my throat a strangling sob | ![]() |
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Caught fiercely, and a great heart-throb | ![]() |
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Sent instant tears into my eyes; | ![]() |
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O God, I cried, no dark disguise | ![]() |
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Can e'er hereafter hide from me | ![]() |
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Thy radiant identity! | ![]() |
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Thou canst not move across the grass | ![]() |
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But my quick eyes will see Thee pass, | ![]() |
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Nor speak, however silently, | ![]() |
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But my hushed voice will answer Thee. | ![]() |
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I know the path that tells Thy way | ![]() |
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Through the cool eve of every day; | ![]() |
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God, I can push the grass apart | ![]() |
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And lay my finger on Thy heart! | ![]() |
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The world stands out on either side | ![]() |
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No wider than the heart is wide; | ![]() |
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Above the world is stretched the sky,-- | ![]() |
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No higher than the soul is high. | ![]() |
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The heart can push the sea and land | ![]() |
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Farther away on either hand; | ![]() |
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The soul can split the sky in two, | ![]() |
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And let the face of God shine through. | ![]() |
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But East and West will pinch the heart | ![]() |
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That can not keep them pushed apart; | ![]() |
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And he whose soul is flat--the sky | ![]() |
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Will cave in on him by and by. | ![]() |
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__________________________________ | ![]() |
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AS kingfishers catch fire |
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by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS |
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AS kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies dráw fláme; |
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As tumbled over rim in roundy wells |
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Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's |
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Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name; |
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Each mortal thing does one thing and the same: |
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Deals out that being indoors each one dwells; |
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Selves -- goes itself; myself it speaks and spells, |
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Crying What I do is me: for that I came. |
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I say more: the just man justices; |
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Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces; |
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Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is -- |
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Christ -- for Christ plays in ten thousand places, |
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Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his |
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To the Father through the features of men's faces. |
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_____________________________________ |
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The Prophet | ![]() |
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by Kahlil Gibran | ![]() |
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THEN said Almitra, Speak to us of Love. | ![]() |
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And he raised his head and looked upon | ![]() |
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the people, and there fell a stillness upon | ![]() |
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them. And with a great voice he said: | ![]() |
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When love beckons to you, follow him, | ![]() |
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Though his ways are hard and steep. | ![]() |
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And when his wings enfold you yield to him, | ![]() |
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Though the sword hidden among his pinions | ![]() |
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may wound you. | ![]() |
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And when he speaks to you believe in him, | ![]() |
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Though his voice may shatter your dreams | ![]() |
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as the north wind lays waste the garden. | ![]() |
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For even as love crowns you so shall he | ![]() |
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crucify you. Even as he is for your growth | ![]() |
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so is he for your pruning. | ![]() |
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Even as he ascends to your height and | ![]() |
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caresses your tenderest branches that quiver | ![]() |
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in the sun, | ![]() |
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So shall he descend to your roots and | ![]() |
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shake them in their clinging to the earth. | ![]() |
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Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto | ![]() |
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Himself. | ![]() |
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He threshes you to make you naked. | ![]() |
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He sifts you to free you from your husks. | ![]() |
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He grinds you to whiteness. | ![]() |
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He kneads you until you are pliant; | ![]() |
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And then he assigns you to his sacred | ![]() |
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fire, that you may become sacred bread for | ![]() |
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God's sacred feast. | ![]() |
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All these things shall love do unto you | ![]() |
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that you may know the secrets of your | ![]() |
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heart, and in that knowledge become a | ![]() |
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fragment of Life's heart. | ![]() |
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But if in your fear you would seek only | ![]() |
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love's peace and love's pleasure, | ![]() |
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Then it is better for you that you cover | ![]() |
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your nakedness and pass out of love's | ![]() |
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threshing-floor, | ![]() |
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Into the seasonless world where you | ![]() |
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shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, | ![]() |
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and weep, but not all of your tears. | ![]() |
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Love gives naught but itself and takes | ![]() |
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naught but from itself. | ![]() |
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Love possesses not nor would it be | ![]() |
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possessed; | ![]() |
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For love is sufficient unto love. | ![]() |
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When you love you should not say, | ![]() |
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"God is in my heart," but rather, "I am | ![]() |
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in the heart of God." | ![]() |
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And think not you can direct the course | ![]() |
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of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, | ![]() |
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directs your course. | ![]() |
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Love has no other desire but to fulfill | ![]() |
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itself. | ![]() |
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But if you love and must needs have | ![]() |
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desires, let these be your desires: | ![]() |
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To melt and be like a running brook | ![]() |
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that sings its melody to the night. | ![]() |
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To know the pain of too much tenderness. | ![]() |
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To be wounded by your own understanding | ![]() |
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of love; | ![]() |
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And to bleed willingly and joyfully. | ![]() |
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To wake at dawn with a winged heart | ![]() |
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and give thanks for another day of loving; | ![]() |
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To rest at the noon hour and meditate | ![]() |
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love's ecstasy; | ![]() |
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To return home at eventide with gratitude; | ![]() |
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And then to sleep with a prayer for the | ![]() |
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beloved in your heart and a song of praise | ![]() |
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upon your lips. | ![]() |
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________________________________ |
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Smoke |
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By George MacDonald |
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Lord, I have laid my heart upon thy altar |
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But cannot get the wood to burn; |
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It hardly flares ere it begins to falter |
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And to the dark return. |
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Old sap, or night-fallen dew, make damp the fuel; |
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In vain my breath would flame provoke; |
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Yet see - at every poor attempt's renewal |
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To thee ascends the smoke! |
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`Tis all I have - smoke, failure, foiled endeavor, |
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Coldness and doubt and palsied lack: |
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Such as I have I send thee! - perfect Giver, |
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Send thou thy lightning back. |
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THE GATES OF PARADISE. |
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by Dorothy Sayers |
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FROM the grave-bed and the winding sheet |
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Is a long way for dead feet, |
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A dark road for dead eyes, |
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That leads to the gates of Paradise. |
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When Judas' soul went through the night, |
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To knock on Hades gate, |
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His way was over the whin-pricked moor, |
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And the noise of the wind was great. |
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He had no lantern to his feet, |
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Nor candle in his hand, |
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Such as God gives to every man |
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That dies at the time planned. |
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The angels sit in highest Heaven |
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And trim the lamps of God, |
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And all day long make lights for those |
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That travel death's dim road. |
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And when the cross is on thy breast, |
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The chrism on thine eyes, |
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Thy angel will bear down thy light |
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Out of the starry skies |
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And thou therewith shalt walk by night |
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Safely to Paradise. |
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But whoso doth so deadly sin |
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To cast his life away, |
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Finding his lamp not lit betimes |
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Walks through the midnight grey. |
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For a long night and half a day |
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Did Judas walk alone |
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Through the utter dark, for in that place |
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Is neither sun nor moon. |
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For a long night and half a day |
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Did Judas vainly seek |
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To reach the gates of Paradise, |
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The salt tears on his cheek. |
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With that he saw a candle gleam |
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Borne by a hasty man, |
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And Judas caught him by the cloak |
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So swiftly as he ran. |
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"O let me walk with thee, kind friend-- |
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I grope, I fail, I fall, |
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I have no lamp nor candle-light |
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And the night is over all." |
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"Full gladly, so thou make good speed, |
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I run to keep the tryst, |
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That was given to me at the gates of Hell, |
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By sweet King Jesus Christ. |
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"I am the thief whom God forgave, |
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On Calvary's bitter tree, |
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For 'To-night,' He said, 'thou shalt rest thine head |
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In Paradise, with Me.'" |
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"And I am the man that sinned such a sin |
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As the world remembers not, |
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That sold for a price the Lord of Life-- |
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Judas Iscariot." |
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"Now God forbid, thou damnèd wretch, |
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That ever this should be, |
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That I should tryst with Jesus Christ, |
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In the company of thee." |
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The first robber went his way, |
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And Judas walked alone, |
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Mirk, mirk was the black midnight, |
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The heavy wind made moan. |
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Right so there came a second man |
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Was walking by the road: |
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"O brother, let me share thy light |
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As far as Hell's abode." |
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"Now well I fear, my brother dear, |
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Thou never wilt walk with me-- |
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I am that thief which railed on Christ |
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All on His bitter tree. |
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"I cast shame on King Jesus then, |
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Wearing His painful crown, |
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And scorn upon His Royal Head, |
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Whence the pale sweat dripped down. |
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"O rudd-red were the five blest wounds |
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Where nails and spear went in, |
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A thousand, thousand years of Purgatory fire |
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Never can cleanse my sin." |
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"Why never, I ween," said Judas then |
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"Did two such sinners meet; |
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I sold King Christ to the bloody Jews |
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That pierced His Hands and Feet." |
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"Art thou that man," quoth the robber, |
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"Most cursed under skies? |
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God do so to me if I go with thee |
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To the gates of Paradise!" |
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The second robber went his way, |
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And Judas walked alone, |
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Till he was aware of a grey man, |
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That sat upon a stone, |
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And the lamp he had in his right hand |
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Shone brighter than the moon. |
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"Come hither, come hither, thou darkling man, |
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And bear me company, |
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This lamp I hold will give us light, |
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Enough for thee and me." |
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Judas walks with the grey-clad man, |
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And fear is in his heart: |
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"Speak yet again, thou man in grey |
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And tell me what thou art." |
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"I bought a burden of deadly sin, |
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And needs must pay the price, |
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I bear it hither in my hand |
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To the gates of Paradise." |
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"Sin cannot lie upon thy heart |
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So heavy as on mine." |
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"Nay, sinner, whosoe'er thou art, |
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'Tis a heavier load than thine." |
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He hath not askèd Judas' name, |
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And Judas makes no sign. |
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"If sin is heavy on thy heart, |
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And I must bear its weight, |
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It is fit that we should go together |
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To tryst at Hades gate." |
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Judas walked with the grey-clad man |
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And feared to tell his name, |
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He clasped his hand in the barren land, |
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Bright burned the lanthorn's flame, |
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Brotherliwise and hand in hand, |
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To Paradise they came. |
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Satan looked out from Hades gate, |
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His hand upon the key, |
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"Good souls, before I let you in, |
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First tell me who ye be." |
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"We be two men that died of late |
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And come to keep Hell's tryst, |
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This is Judas Iscariot, |
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And I am Jesus Christ." |