Poems (Hornblower)/Verses (Do I not love at midnight to gaze forth)
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For works with similar titles, see Verses.
VERSES.
Do I not love at midnight to gaze forth
Upon the hallowed skies, and front then beauty
Drink solemn thoughts of purity and love,
Then sacred light conveying images
Of a more holy presence—even of Him,
All light,all purity? Do I not love
To send my thoughts beyond those crystal vaults,
Far into the deep heavens, to those calm homes
That wait the spirit, here beatified
By human griefs and sufferings? Are not sweet
The visions of then glory and repose,
That fall upon me softly? In such hour,
I feel my immortality—my heart
Answers the sacredness of all around—
The charm, the fascination of the scene,
And reads, delighted, evidence of God.
On seraph wings my thoughts have burst the bound
Of this low earth, and past those sinning orbs,
Have traversed that wide ether, to the throne
Of Him, the living one—have seen the array
Of hosts angelic, who, in raptured state,
Bend then- blest brows to hail him—have drank in
Immortal music, tones divinely sweet,
Attuned to praise—have heard, in awed delight,
Voices I loved on earth as seraphim,
Hymning his goodness—ever, ever on,
In deeper, holier cadence—and, inspired
By sudden adoration, I have knelt
Beyond those radiant bands, at mortal's distance,
To the Incomprehensible, and burned
To be an angel too, and learn his will,
And do his high command, and traverse heaven
Upon the wings of an unwearied love!
Presumptuous musings—yet beheld perchance
With tenderness and pity, by the Power
Who breathed the aspirations in our breast
For all the bright and beautiful—for good
In every earthly form—and higher still
The boundless aspirations after Him,
The living thirst for the immortal waters,
Which not even faith supplies. My Heavenly Father!
I ask Thee not for more; still feed this fire;
'Mid the earth's darkening scenes, still guide me on,
And I will follow the Invisible,
Even with a child-like trust, nor ask for light,
Nor shrink from trial, but confiding give
This soul into thy keeping, and with smiles,
To burst these bonds, await thine angel, death.
Upon the hallowed skies, and front then beauty
Drink solemn thoughts of purity and love,
Then sacred light conveying images
Of a more holy presence—even of Him,
All light,all purity? Do I not love
To send my thoughts beyond those crystal vaults,
Far into the deep heavens, to those calm homes
That wait the spirit, here beatified
By human griefs and sufferings? Are not sweet
The visions of then glory and repose,
That fall upon me softly? In such hour,
I feel my immortality—my heart
Answers the sacredness of all around—
The charm, the fascination of the scene,
And reads, delighted, evidence of God.
On seraph wings my thoughts have burst the bound
Of this low earth, and past those sinning orbs,
Have traversed that wide ether, to the throne
Of Him, the living one—have seen the array
Of hosts angelic, who, in raptured state,
Bend then- blest brows to hail him—have drank in
Immortal music, tones divinely sweet,
Attuned to praise—have heard, in awed delight,
Voices I loved on earth as seraphim,
Hymning his goodness—ever, ever on,
In deeper, holier cadence—and, inspired
By sudden adoration, I have knelt
Beyond those radiant bands, at mortal's distance,
To the Incomprehensible, and burned
To be an angel too, and learn his will,
And do his high command, and traverse heaven
Upon the wings of an unwearied love!
Presumptuous musings—yet beheld perchance
With tenderness and pity, by the Power
Who breathed the aspirations in our breast
For all the bright and beautiful—for good
In every earthly form—and higher still
The boundless aspirations after Him,
The living thirst for the immortal waters,
Which not even faith supplies. My Heavenly Father!
I ask Thee not for more; still feed this fire;
'Mid the earth's darkening scenes, still guide me on,
And I will follow the Invisible,
Even with a child-like trust, nor ask for light,
Nor shrink from trial, but confiding give
This soul into thy keeping, and with smiles,
To burst these bonds, await thine angel, death.