English Poetry. Claude McKay. Russian Cathedral. Клод Маккей.

Claude McKay (Клод Маккей)

Russian Cathedral

Bow down my soul in worship very low
And in the holy silences be lost.
Bow down before the marble man of woe,
Bow down before the singing angel host.
What jewelled glory fills my spirit’s eye,
What golden grandeur moves the depths of me!
The soaring arches lift me up on high 
Taking my breath with their rare symmetry. 

Bow down my soul and let the wondrous light
Of beauty bathe thee from her lofty throne,
Bow down before the wonder of man’s might.
Bow down in worship, humble and alone;
Bow lowly down before the sacred sight
Of man’s divinity alive in stone.

Claude McKay’s other poems:

1. The Wild Goat
2. To a Poet
3. The Castaways
4. The White House
5. Thirst

890

To the dedicated English version of this website

---