Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OBEDIENCE by GEORGE MACDONALD

Poet Analysis

First Line: I SAID, 'I WILL [OR, LET ME] WALK IN THE FIELDS'
Last Line: THE PATH I HAD FEARED TO SEE.
I said, "Let me walk in the fields."
He said: "No, walk in the town."
I said: "There are no flowers there."
He said: "No flowers, but a crown."

I said: "But the skies are black;
There is nothing but noise and din."
And He wept as He sent me back--
"There is more," He said, "there is sin."

I said: "But the air is thick,
And fogs are veiling the sun."
He answered: "Yet souls are sick,
And souls in the dark undone!"

I said: "I shall miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say."
He answered: "Choose tonight
If I am to miss you or they."

I pleaded for time to be given,
He said: "Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem to hard in heaven
To have followed the steps of your Guide."

I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town;
He said, "My child, to you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?"

Then into His hand went mine;
And into my heart came He;
And I walk in a light divine
The path I had feared to see.



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