Practising The Anthem

A summer wind blows through the open porch,

And, ‘neath the rustling eaves,

A summer light of moonrise, calm and pale,

Shines through a vale of leaves.

The soft gusts bring a scent of summer flowers,

Fresh with the falling dew,

And round the doorway, glimmering white as snow,

The tender petals strew.

Clear through the silence, from a reedy pool

The curlew’s whistle thrills;

A lonely mopoke sorrowfully cries

From the far-folding hills.

O lovely night, and yet so sad and strange!

My fingers touch the key;

And down the empty church my Christmas song

Goes ringing, glad and free.

Each sweet note knocks at dreaming memory’s door,

And memory wakes in pain;

The spectral faces she had turn’d away

Come crowding in again.

The air seems full of music all around-

I know not what I hear,

The multitudinous echoes of the past,

Or these few voices near.

Ah me! the dim aisle vaguely widens out,

I see me stand therein;

A glory of grey sculpture takes the light

A winter morn brings in.

No more I smell the fragrant jessamine flowers

That flake a moonlit floor;

The rustling night-breeze and the open porch

I hear and see no more.

Great solemn windows, down a long, long nave

Their shadow’d rainbows fling;

Dark Purbeck shafts, with hoary capitals,

In carven archways spring.

And overhead the throbbing organ waves

Roll in one mighty sea,

Bearing the song the herald angels sang

Of Christ’s nativity.

Dear hands touch mine beneath the open book,

Sweet eyes look in my face,-

They smile, they melt in darkness; I am snatch’d

From my familiar place.

The summer night-wind blows upon my tears;

Its flowery scent is pain.

O cold, white day! O noble minster-when

May I come back again!

To hear the angels’ anthem shake the air,

Where never discord jars,-

The Christmas carols in the windy street,

Under the frosty stars;

The dream-like falling from the still, grey skies,

With falling flakes of snow,

Of mellow chimes from old cathedral bells,

Solemn and sweet and slow.

To hear loved footsteps beating time with mine

Along the churchyard path,-

To see that ring of faces once again

Drawn round the blazing hearth.

When may I come? O Lord, when may I go?

Nay, I must wait Thy will.

Give patience, Lord, and in Thine own best way

My hopes and prayers fulfil.

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Poems in English 

• Forex Trading Strategies – Divining the Mysteries of Candlestick Charts and Patterns by Poetry In English
• Numbers and the Bible by Poetry In English
• Quality Customer Service – How to Measure Customer Satisfaction by Poetry In English
• Ethiopia – Lalibela by Poetry In English
• Different World Views of Art by Poetry In English
• Distributive Trade II – The Wholesaler by Poetry In English
• 12 Surefire Brainstorming Techniques by Poetry In English
• Factors Affecting the Labor Market – Determination of Wages and The Activities of Trade Unions by Poetry In English
• How To Achieve Self-Realization, The Mother of All Knowledge? by Poetry In English
• The Cosmic Eggs by Poetry In English
• What Are Solar Roofing Shingles? by Poetry In English
• Howard Stern’s Wine by Poetry In English
• Style Ideas For Vests For Women by Poetry In English
• A Life Of Lorenzo Da Ponte:Talent Flies; Practical Reason Walks by Poetry In English
• How to Make Money Online Writing and Selling eBooks by Poetry In English
• Cinema Therapy and The MovieMaking Process by Poetry In English
• God’s Work Ethics by Poetry In English
• Article Writing – Revealed – 4 Priceless Methods to Make Money Through Article Writing by Poetry In English
• 71 Ways For A Writer To Make Money by Poetry In English
• Secrets of Academic Success: Passion by Poetry In English

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