Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Alexander Smith. 18291867777. Love
THE fierce exulting worlds, the motes in rays, | |
The churlish thistles, scented briers, | |
The wind-swept bluebells on the sunny braes, | |
Down to the central fires, | |
Exist alike in Love. Love is a sea | 5 |
Filling all the abysses dim | |
Of lornest space, in whose deeps regally | |
Suns and their bright broods swim. | |
This mighty sea of Love, with wondrous tides, | |
Is sternly just to sun and grain; | 10 |
‘Tis laving at this moment Saturn’s sides, | |
‘Tis in my blood and brain. | |
All things have something more than barren use; | |
There is a scent upon the brier, | |
A tremulous splendour in the autumn dews, | 15 |
Cold morns are fringed with fire. | |
The clodded earth goes up in sweet-breath’d flowers; | |
In music dies poor human speech, | |
And into beauty blow those hearts of ours | |
When Love is born in each. | 20 |
Daisies are white upon the churchyard sod, | |
Sweet tears the clouds lean down and give. | |
The world is very lovely. O my God, | |
I thank Thee that I live! |