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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE DAY SAT BY WITH BANNER FURLED
Last Line: Than all such kings as keep where follies are
Subject(s): ISRAEL;
The Day sat by with banner furled;
His battered shield hung on the wall;
One great star walked the upper world,
All purple-robed, in Stately Hall;
Some unseen reapers gathered golden sheaves,
The skies were as the tree of life in yellow leaves.

God's poor of Hebron rested. Then
Straightway unto their presence drew
A captain with his band of men
And smote His poor, and well-nigh slew,
Saying, " Hence, ye poor ! Behold, the king this night
Comes forth with torch and dance and loud delight."

His poor, how much they cared to see !
How begged they, prone, to see, to hear !
But spake the captain angrily,
And drove them forth with sword and spear,
And shut the gate ; and when the king passed through,
These lonely poor they knew not what to do.

Lo, then a soft-voiced stranger said:
"Come ye with me a little space.
I know where torches gold and red
Gleam down a peaceful, ample place;
Where song and perfume fill the restful air,
And men speak scarce at all. The King is there."

They passed; they sat a grass-set hill
What king hath carpets like to this ?
What king hath music like the trill
Of crickets 'mid these silences
These perfumed silences, that rest upon
The soul like sunlight on a hill at dawn ?

Behold what blessings in the air !
What benedictions in the dew !
These olives lift their arms in prayer ;
They turn their leaves, God reads them through ;
Yon lilies where the falling water sings
Are fairer-robed than choristers of kings.

Lift now your heads ! yon golden bars
That build the porch of heaven, seas
Of silver-sailing golden stars
Yea, these are yours, and all of these !
For yonder king hath never yet been told
Of silver seas that sail these ships of gold.

They turned, they raised their heads on high ;
They saw, the first time saw and knew,
The awful glories of the sky,
The benedictions of the dew;
And from that day His poor were richer far
Than all such kings as keep where follies are.




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