ODE TO GOD 241
Resounding on all sides thy praise I hear ; I see pale Terror kneel to kiss thy rod ; Yet, sanctified far less by faith than fear, Man's worship dreads, but doth not deem thee dear,
Unlike that God
Whom love names " Father ; " sages, " the All-wise ; "
The afflicted, " Comforter ; " while I've forgot All titles for thee. With admiring eyes, I view thine earth, thy seas, thy stars, thy skies, And name thee not.
I feel thy wings upon the wintry blast ;
I hear thy chariot in the rattling thunder — Think on thine infinite worlds, so bright, so vast, Thine endless future and thy boundless past, And mutely wonder.
Why should I dread thee, all-pervading Mind .-•
Or whither go ? Bereft of thee, how lone I All dark without thy light, yet with it blind, I cannot fly thee, and I cannot find, Thou Infinite One.
Forever round and round thy planets sail — Thou'rt far away, yet ever near dost dwell. Strange Mystery ! To solve thee I must fail ; I see thee, but can neither bid thee hail, Nor yet farewell.
But now, methinks, once more the mists profound
Are scattering, and I see thy smile returning. O, wonderful ! Mine eyes behold no bound ; Millions of stars encompass thee around, All brightly burning,
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