1 The liquid pearl in springs, The useful and the precious things Are in a moment known. Their very glory does reveal their worth (And that doth set their glory forth); As soon as I was born, they all were shown. 2 True living wealth did flow, In crystal streams below My feet, and trilling down In pure, transparent, soft, sweet, melting pleasures, Like precious and diffusive treasures, At once my body fed, and soul did crown. 3 I was as high and great, As kings are in their seat. All other things were mine. The world my house, the creatures were my goods, Fields, mountains, valleys, woods, Floods, cities, churches, men, for me did shine. 4 Great, lofty, endless, stable, Various and innumerable, Bright, useful, fair, divine, Immovable and sweet the treasures were, The sacred objects did appear Most rich and beautiful, as well as mine. 5 New all! New burnish'd joys; Tho now by other toys Eclips'd: new all and mine. Great truth so sacred seem'd for this to me, Because the things which I did see Were such, my state I knew to be divine. 6 Nor did the angels' faces, The glories, and the graces, The beauty, peace, and joy Of Heaven itself, more sweetness yield to me. Till filthy sin did all destroy, These were the offspring of the Deity. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MAY AND DEATH by ROBERT BROWNING IF WE KNEW; OR, BLESSINGS OF TO-DAY by MAY LOUISE RILEY SMITH EXOTIC PERFUME by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE THE THINKER'S VISION by WILLIAM ROSE BENET THE BURDEN OF A SIGH by LEVI BISHOP ONCE WE PLAYED by MATHILDE BLIND VERSES IN A WATCH by WILLIAM CZAR BRADLEY |