THE black-haired gaunt Paulinus By ruddy Edwin stood:— "Bow down, O king of Deira, Before the blessèd Rood! Cast out thy heathen idols, And worship Christ our Lord." —But Edwin looked and pondered, And answered not a word. Again the gaunt Paulinus To ruddy Edwin spake: "God offers life immortal For his dear Son's own sake! Wilt thou not hear his message, Who bears the keys and sword?" —But Edwin looked and pondered, And answered not a word. Rose then a sage old warrior Was fivescore winters old; Whose beard from chin to girdle Like one long snow-wreath rolled:— "At Yule-time in our chamber We sit in warmth and light, While cold and howling round us Lies the black land of Night. "Athwart the room a sparrow Darts from the open door: Within the happy hearth-light One red flash,—and no more! We see it come from darkness, And into darkness go:— So is our life, King Edwin! Alas, that it is so! "But if this pale Paulinus Have somewhat more to tell; Some news of Whence and Whither, And where the soul will dwell;— If on that outer darkness The sun of Hope may shine;— He makes life worth the living! I take his God for mine!" So spake the wise old warrior; And all about him cried, "Paulinus' God hath conquered! And he shall be our guide:— For he makes life worth living Who brings this message plain, When our brief days are over, That we shall live again." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...O DREAMS, O DESTINATIONS by CECIL DAY LEWIS A DISCRETE LOVE POEM by JAMES GALVIN THE FLAME LIGHTS UP by DAVID IGNATOW DAWN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO THE MARTYRED by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE COTTON CLUB by CLARENCE MAJOR A NEW HYMN by KATHERINE MANSFIELD |