O friend, it is a deep religious loss To palter with our Master's pure renown; To lose the sad precision of the Cross In Fancy's lights, and melt away His crown; Gazing on truth, why should our vision swim? Let Calvary stand clear of fabulous mist, Keep all the paths of Olivet for Christ, And let no Orphic phantom walk with Him! Then, and then only, welcome! what they tell Of that majestic harp, which came full-strung Among the woes of Hades, to compel A pause in all her penance - of the spell Marred by a look - and of that faithful tongue, Which Death and Hebrus strove in vain to quell. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FICTION by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON PEACE (1) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DOMESDAY BOOK: LILLI ALM by EDGAR LEE MASTERS ODE TO A HUMAN HEART by SAMUEL LAMAN BLANCHARD CHIQUITA by FRANCIS BRET HARTE WHAT OF THE DARKNESS?; TO THE HAPPY DEAD PEOPLE by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE MALVERN HILL [JULY 1, 1862] by HERMAN MELVILLE |