Life and Nature.

I recently purchased a very worn and tattered paperback volume of poetry from the 1940s entitled "Anthology of Canadian Poetry." A few real gems in this book stood out to me, this poem in particular.

Life and Nature.

I passed through the gates of the city,
    The streets were strange and still,
Through the doors of the open churches,
    The organs were moaning shrill.

Through the doors and the great high windows
    I heard the murmer of prayer,
And the sound of their solemn singing,
    Streamed out on the sunlit air;

A sound of some great burden
    That lay on the world's dark breast,
Of the old, and the sick, and the lonely,
    And the weary that cried for rest.

I strayed through the midst of the city
    Like one distracted or mad.
"O Life! O Life!" I kept saying,
    And the very word seemed sad.

I passed through the gates of the city,
    And I heard the small birds sing,
I laid me down in the meadows
    Afar from the bell-ringing.

In the depth and the bloom of the meadows
    I lay on the earth's quiet breast,
The poplar fanned me with shadows,
    And the veery sang me to rest.

Blue, blue was the heaven above me,
    And the earth green at my feet;
"O Life! O Life!" I kept saying,
    And the very word seemed sweet.

--Archibald Lampman, 1861-1899

How wonderful it is sometimes to escape the crowds of the city and just spend some time in nature.

Comments

[~Andrea~]

My mom has that same anthology. I've been known to borrow it for long periods of time. It's a wonderful collection.

[Abbie]

Great poem. My sentiment exactly!