Ah! what time wilt thou come? when shall that cry @3The Bridegroom's coming!@1 fill the sky? Shall it in the evening run When our words and works are done? Or will thy all-surprising light Break at midnight? When either sleep, or some dark pleasure Possesseth mad man without measure; Or shall these early, fragrant hours Unlock thy bowers? And with their blush of light descry Thy locks crowned with eternity; Indeed, it is the only time That with thy glory doth best chime, All now are stirring, ev'ry field Full hymns doth yield, The whole Creation shakes off night, And for thy shadow looks the light, Stars now vanish without number, Sleepy planets set and slumber, The pursy clouds disband and scatter, All expect some sudden matter, Not one beam triumphs, but from far That morning-star; O at what time soever thou (Unknown to us) the heavens wilt bow, And, with thy angels in the @3van@1, Descend to judge poor careless man, Grant, I may not like puddle lie In a corrupt security, Where, if a traveller water crave, He finds it dead, and in a grave; But as this restless, vocal @3spring@1 All day and night doth run and sing, And though here born, yet is acquainted Elsewhere, and flowing keeps untainted; So let me all my busy age In thy free services engage, And though (while here) of force I must Have commerce sometimes with poor dust, And in my flesh, though vile and low, As this doth in her channel flow, Yet let my course, my aim, my love, And chief acquaintance be above; So when that day and hour shall come In which thyself will be the Sun, Thou'lt find me dressed and on my way, Watching the break of thy great day. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GOOD COMPANY by KARLE WILSON BAKER THE LOVE OF CHRIST WHICH PASSETH KNOWLEDGE by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI UPON A SPIDER CATCHING A FLY by EDWARD TAYLOR OUR MASTER by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER ON THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF READING MATTER by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS TO MYRTILLA OF NEW YORK by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS |