OF old, with goodwill from the skies— God's message to them given— The angels came, a glad surprise, And went again to heaven. But now the angels are grown rare, Needed no more as then; Far lowlier messengers can bear God's goodwill unto men. Each year, the snowdrops' pallid dawn Breaks from the earth below; Light spreads, till, from the dark updrawn, The noontide roses glow. The snowdrops first—the dawning gray; Then out the roses burn! They speak their word, grow dim—away To holy dust return. Of oracles were little dearth, Should heaven continue dumb; From lowliest corners of the earth God's messages will come. In thy face his we see, O Lord, And are no longer blind; Need not so much his rarer word, In flowers even read his mind. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NEIGHBORS by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON ADAM AND HIS FATHER by KAREN SWENSON SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 41 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING A NEGRO LOVE SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR AT LAST by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER AN ARMOURY by ALCAEUS OF MYTILENE |