Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.
By Hymns and Poems. VII. ResurrectionSir John Bowring (17921872)
S
From the grave of earlier springs,
Which to renovated earth
Other resurrection brings.
Power could mould, from mortal dust;
Flowers and fruits, from clouds and clods,
Life from ruin and from rust.
In the seed the unborn tree;
Bud and blossom in the blade,
Future ripened fruit to be.
That, from night’s obscurest shrine,
Brought forth intellectual light,
Souls with thoughts and hopes divine.
Which, for earth’s contracted whole,
Gave to heaven a worthy dower,
Gave an ever-living soul.
Than to ages moments seem,
Is the world we now possess,
To the world of which we dream.
When compared with the embrace
Of a love encircling all,
Through all time and o’er all space.