Poem by Richard Watson Gilder

The Celestial Passion. Part 2. 9. “To Rest from Weary Work”

To rest from weary work one day of seven;
⁠     One day to turn our backs upon the world,
     ⁠Its soil wash from us, and strive on to Heaven—
⁠     Whereto we daily climb, but quick are hurled
Down to the pit of human pride and sin.
⁠     Help me, ye powers celestial! to come nigh;
     ⁠Ah, let me catch one little glimpse within
     ⁠The heavenly city, lest my spirit die.
These be my guides, my messengers, my friends:
⁠     Books of wise poets; the musician's art;
⁠     The ocean whose deep music never ends;
The silence of the forest's shadowy heart;
⁠     Not less the brooding organ's solemn blare,
⁠     And kneeling multitudes' low-murmuring prayer. 

1. The New Day. Part 3. 23. Song (My love grew with the growing night)
2. The Celestial Passion. Part 2. 3. A Madonna of Fra Lippo Lippi
3. The New Day. Part 4. 2. The Mirror
4. The Celestial Passion. Part 1. 2. The Poet and His Master
5. The New Day. Part 3. 6. “Love Me Not, Love, for That I First Loved Thee”

Print

1648 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version