O Lord, when Thou didst call me, didst Thou know My heart disheartened thro’ and thro’, Still hankering after Egypt full in view Where cucumbers and melons grow? —’Yea, I knew.’— But, Lord, when Thou didst choose me, didst Thou know How marred I was and withered too, Not rose for sweetness nor for virtueContinue reading “Tepid to love and impotent to do”
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As the sparks fly upwards
Lord, grant us wills to trust Thee with such aim Of hope and passionate craving of desire That we may mount aspiring, and aspire Still while we mount; rejoicing in Thy Name, Yesterday, this day, day by day the Same: So sparks fly upward scaling heaven by fire, Still mount and still attain not, yetContinue reading “As the sparks fly upwards”
Birds of Paradise
Golden-winged, silver-winged Winged with flashing flame, Such a flight of birds I saw, Birds without a name: Singing songs in their own tongue— Song of songs—they came. One to another calling, Each answering each, One to another calling In their proper speech: High above my head they wheeled, Far out of reach. On wings ofContinue reading “Birds of Paradise”
Two Pursuits
A voice said ‘Follow, follow’ : and I rose And followed far into the dreamy night, Turning my back upon the pleasant light. It led me where the bluest water flows, And would not let me drink : where the corn grows I dared not pause, but went uncheered by sight Or touch : untilContinue reading “Two Pursuits”
The Face of the Deep (1.4-6)
4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; 5. And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful Witness, and the first begotten of the dead,Continue reading “The Face of the Deep (1.4-6)”
The Face of the Deep (1.3)
I continue here with Christina Rossetti’s The Face of the Deep: A Devotional Commentary on the Apocalypse (London: SPCK, 1892). The other entries are found in the Poetry category in the right column. ❧ 3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which areContinue reading “The Face of the Deep (1.3)”
The Face of the Deep (1.1-2)
As foretold in days of yore, here is the beginning of a lengthy serialized presentation of Christina Georgina Rossetti’s The Face of the Deep: A Devotional Commentary on the Apocalypse. The reader is guaranteed to gain from this: a.) excellent poetry; b.) the devotional commentary of a woman who, in the words of her brother,Continue reading “The Face of the Deep (1.1-2)”
The Face of the Deep
If thou canst dive, bring up pearls. If thou canst not dive, collect amber. Though I fail to identify Paradisiacal “bdellium,” I still may hope to search out beauties of the “onyx stone.” A dear saint—I speak under correction of the Judgment of the Great Day, yet think not then to have my word corrected—thisContinue reading “The Face of the Deep”