Poems (Rossetti, 1901)/"I will lift up mine Eyes unto the Hills"
"I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS."
I AM pale with sick desire, For my heart is far away From this world's fitful fire And this world's waning day; In a dream it overleaps A world of tedious ills To where the sunshine sleeps On the everlasting hills.— Say the Saints: There Angels ease us Glorified and white. They say: We rest in Jesus, Where is not day or night.
My soul saith: I have sought For a home that is not gained, I have spent yet nothing bought, Have laboured but not attained; My pride strove to mount and grow, And hath but dwindled down; My love sought love, and lo! Hath not attained its crown.— Say the Saints: Fresh souls increase us, None languish or recede. They say: We love our Jesus, And He loves us indeed.
I cannot rise above, I cannot rest beneath, I cannot find out love, Or escape from death; Dear hopes and joys gone by Still mock me with a name; My best beloved die, And I cannot die with them.— Say the Saints: No deaths decrease us, Where our rest is glorious. They say: We live in Jesus, Who once died for us.
O my soul, she beats her wings And pants to fly away Up to immortal things In the heavenly day: Yet she flags and almost faints; Can such be meant for me?—Come and see, say the Saints Saith Jesus: Come and see. Say the Saints: His pleasures please us Before God and the Lamb. Come and taste My sweets, saith Jesus: Be with Me where I am.