Читать книгу The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell - James Russell Lowell - Страница 189

Lone watcher on the mountain-height,

It is right precious to behold

The first long surf of climbing light

Flood all the thirsty east with gold;

But we, who in the shadow sit,

Know also when the day is nigh,

Seeing thy shining forehead lit

With his inspiring prophecy.

Thou hast thine office; we have ours;

God lacks not early service here,

But what are thine eleventh hours

He counts with us for morning cheer;

Our day, for Him, is long enough,

And when He giveth work to do,

The bruisèd reed is amply tough

To pierce the shield of error, through.

But not the less do thou aspire

Light's earlier messages to preach;

Keep back no syllable of fire,

Plunge deep the rowels of thy speech.

Yet God deems not thine aeried sight

More worthy than our twilight dim;

For meek Obedience, too, is Light,

And following that is finding Him.