Calm, sad, secure; behind high convent walls, These watch the sacred lamp, these watch and pray: And it is one with them when evening falls, And one with them the cold return of day. These heed not time; their nights and days they make Into a long, returning rosary, Whereon their lives are threaded for Christ's sake; Meekness and vigilance and chastity. A vowed patrol, in silent companies, Life-long they keep before the living Christ. In the dim church, their prayers and penances Are fragrant incense to the Sacrificed. Outside, the world is wild and passionate; Man's weary laughter and his sick despair Entreat at their impenetrable gate: They heed no voices in their dream of prayer. They saw the glory of the world displayed; They saw the bitter of it, and the sweet; They knew the roses of the world should fade, And be trod under by the hurrying feet. Therefore they rather put away desire, And crossed their hands and came to the sanctuary And veiled their heads and put on coarse attire: Because their comeliness was vanity. And there they rest; they have serene insight Of the illuminating dawn to be: Mary's sweet Star dispels for them the night, The proper darkness of humanity. Calm, sad, secure; with faces worn and mild: Surely their choice of vigil is best? Yea! for our roses fade, the world is wild; But there, beside the altar, there, is rest. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ENGLISH GRAVEYARD IN MALACCA by KAREN SWENSON THE HUMBLE-BEE by RALPH WALDO EMERSON JEST 'FORE CHRISTMAS by EUGENE FIELD CROSSING THE PLAINS by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER THE SHADED WATER by WILLIAM GILMORE SIMMS THE PROPHECY OF SAMUEL SEWALL by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |