Behold the Court of Penance. Four gaunt walls Shutting out all things but the upper heaven. Stone flags for floor, where daily from their stalls The human cattle in a circle driven Tread down their pathway to a mire uneven, Pale-faced, sad-eyed, and mute as funerals. Woe to the wretch whose weakness unforgiven Falters a moment in the track or falls! Yet is there consolation. Overhead The pigeons build and the loud jackdaws talk, And once in the wind's eye, like a ship moored, A sea-gull flew and I was comforted. Even here the heavens declare thy glory, Lord, And the free firmament thy handiwork. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO DOCTOR EMPIRIC by BEN JONSON TO CHARLOTTE PULTENEY [IN HER MOTHER'S ARMS] by AMBROSE PHILIPS A BETTER ANSWER (TO CHLOE JEALOUS) by MATTHEW PRIOR WHAT TOMAS AN BUILE SAID IN A PUB by JAMES STEPHENS ASOLANDO: POETICS by ROBERT BROWNING BALAUSTION'S ADVENTURE: PART 1 by ROBERT BROWNING |