ST. AGNES' EVE
by: Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)
- EEP on the convent-roof the snows
- Are sparkling to the moon:
- My breath to heaven like vapour goes:
- May my soul follow soon!
- The shadows of the convent-towers
- Slant down the snowy sward,
- Still creeping with the creeping hours
- That lead me to my Lord:
- Make Thou my spirit pure and clear
- As are the frosty skies,
- Or this first snowdrop of the year
- That in my bosom lies.
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- As these white robes are soil'd and dark,
- To yonder shining ground;
- As this pale taper's earthly spark,
- To yonder argent round;
- So shows my soul before the Lamb,
- My spirit before Thee;
- So in mine earthly house I am,
- To that I hope to be.
- Break up the heavens, O Lord! and far,
- Thro' all yon starlight keen,
- Draw me, thy bride, a glittering star,
- In raiment white and clean.
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- He lifts me to the golden doors;
- The flashes come and go;
- All heaven bursts her starry floors,
- And strows her lights below,
- And deepens on and up! the gates
- Roll back, and far within
- For me the Heavenly Bridegroom waits,
- To make me pure of sin.
- The sabbaths of Eternity,
- One sabbath deep and wide--
- A light upon the shining sea--
- The bridegroom with his bride!
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POEMS BY ALFRED TENNYSON |
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