First-Day Thoughts
John Greenleaf Whittier 1807 (Haverhill) – 1892 (Hampton Falls)
In calm and cool and silence, once again
I find my old accustomed place among
My brethren, where, perchance, no human tongue
Shall utter words; where never hymn is sung,
Nor deep-toned organ blown, nor censer swung,
Nor dim light falling through the pictured pane!
There, syllabled by silence, let me hear
The still small voice which reached the prophet's ear;
Read in my heart a still diviner law
Than Israel's leader on his tables saw!
There let me strive with each besetting sin,
Recall my wandering fancies, and restrain
The sore disquiet of a restless brain;
And, as the path of duty is made plain,
May grace be given that I may walk therein,
Not like the hireling, for his selfish gain,
With backward glances and reluctant tread,
Making a merit of his coward dread,
But, cheerful, in the light around me thrown,
Walking as one to pleasant service led;
Doing God's will as if it were my own,
Yet trusting not in mine, but in His strength alone!
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 04, 2023
- 52 sec read
- 130 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | ABBBBCDDEEFCCCFCGGHGHH |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 936 |
Words | 172 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 22 |
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"First-Day Thoughts" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/22893/first-day-thoughts>.
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