LIFT up the everlasting gates! The King before your threshold waits. Shall He who life's great building planned Unwelcomed at its portal stand? Is there a corner of your heart Where you retreat, alone, apart, A sanctuary all your own? Behold! He made it for His throne. Is there a darkness, where, shut in, You dare not face your secret sin? Lo! there He built His mercy seat, There He your humbled soul will meet. Have you a stately banquet hall Where guests from many a clime you call? You see not any face aright Until He enters with His light. Ye rich ones, why will ye abide In poverty of lonely pride? Your silver and your gold are dim, Your house is empty, without Him. Ye lowly ones, if ye are His, Ye have no need of palaces, Since that rich soul can lack for naught Who lets God in at every thought. Lift up the everlasting gates! The King at His own threshold waits. -- Enter, O Lord, and with Thy face Make glorious this Thy dwelling place! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...RONDEAU by JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT IN A BYE-CANAL by HERMAN MELVILLE BASE DETAILS by SIEGFRIED SASSOON THE WELFORD WEDDING by ELIZABETH FRANCES AMHERST THE WATER-SPRINGS by WILLIAM ROSE BENET AWAKENING by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE A FOREIGN TONGUE by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH IRON HEEL by ANNE MILLAY BREMER AN ELEGY ON THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF THOMAS AYLEWORTH, SLAIN AT CROYDON by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |