How like an angel she came...
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Mar 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| jmd |
19 Mar 2003 |
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I was editing a paper for a journal today, and its title reminded me of this most wonderful of poems - so apt in today's tumultuous times... I hope it is enjoyedBy Thomas Traherne (circa 1636?1674)
How like an Angel came I down!
How bright are all things here!
When first among His works I did appear
O how their glory me did crown!
The world resembled His Eternity,
In which my soul did walk;
And every thing that I did see
Did with me talk.
The skies in their magnificence,
The lively, lovely air,
Oh how divine, how soft, how sweet, how fair!
The stars did entertain my sense,
And all the works of God, so bright and pure,
So rich and great did seem,
As if they ever must endure
In my esteem.
A native health and innocence
Within my bones did grow,
And while my God did all his Glories show,
I felt a vigour in my sense
That was all Spirit. I within did flow
With seas of life, like wine;
I nothing in the world did know
But 'twas divine.
Harsh ragged objects were concealed,
Oppressions, tears and cries,
Sins, griefs, complaints, dissensions, weeping eyes
Were hid, and only things revealed
Which heavenly Spirits and the Angels prize.
The state of Innocence
And bliss, not trades and poverties,
Did fill my sense.
The streets were paved with golden stones,
The boys and girls were mine,
Oh how did all their lovely faces shine!
The sons of men were holy ones,
In joy and beauty they appeared to me,
And every thing which here I found,
While like an Angel I did see,
Adorned the ground.
Rich diamond and pearl and gold
In every place was seen;
Rare splendours, yellow, blue, red, white and green,
Mine eyes did everywhere behold.
Great wonders clothed with glory did appear,
Amazement was my bliss,
That and my wealth was everywhere;
No joy to this!
Cursed and devised proprieties,
With envy, avarice
And fraud, those fiends that spoil even Paradise,
Flew from the splendour of mine eyes,
And so did hedges, ditches, limits, bounds,
I dreamed not aught of those,
But wandered over all men?s grounds,
And found repose.
Proprieties themselves were mine,
And hedges ornaments;
Walls, boxes, coffers, and their rich contents
Did not divide my joys, but all combine.
Clothes, ribbons, jewels, laces, I esteemed
My joys by others worn:
For me they all to wear them seemed
When I was born.
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| Athara |
19 Mar 2003 |
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It's beautiful! Amazing how poems can be little pearls in itself...
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| Kitty |
19 Mar 2003 |
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:) thank you jmd - I have been so sad today - watching the news about the coming war.
To all out there - I send my prayers.
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| coldsuns |
19 Mar 2003 |
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Wonderful poem! Thanks for sharing with us. Hope to see more here ^_^
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| jlbvt |
19 Mar 2003 |
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Wow, jmd, I got chills reading that. Thanks for sharing it.
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The How like an angel she came... thread was originally posted on 19 Mar 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.
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