I always liked Henry Wadsworth Longfellow dating back to a 4th grade field trip to his home. It was also in 4th grade when I memorized "The Arrow and the Song."
I haven't read poetry in years, but decided to reacquaint myself. After the Courtship, I think I might try "Song of Hiawatha."
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Also check out another new blog The Intentional Imagineer.
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Finally, wrote (or actually revised and updated) an article for New Catholic Land Movement. A version of this originally appeared in 2012 on Front Porch Republic. Enjoy it if you can!
Oremus pro invicem!
The Sifting of Peter
ReplyDeleteby H.W. Longfellow
In St. Luke's Gospel we are told
How Peter in the days of old
Was sifted;
And now, though ages intervene,
Sin is the same, while time and scene
Are shifted.
Satan desires us, great and small,
As wheat to sift us, and we all
Are tempted;
Not one, however rich or great,
Is by his station or estate
Exempted.
No house so safely guarded is
But he, by some device of his,
Can enter;
No heart hath armor so complete
But he can pierce with arrows fleet
Its centre.
For all at last the cock will crow,
Who hear the warning voice, but go
Unheeding,
Till thrice and more they have denied
The Man of Sorrows, crucified
And bleeding.
One look of that pale, suffering face
Will make us feel the deep disgrace
Of weakness;
We shall be sifted till the strength
Of self-conceit be changed at length
To meekness.
Wounds of the soul, though healed, will ache;
The reddening scars remain, and make
Confession;
Lost innocence returns no more;
We are not what we were before
Transgression.
But noble souls, through dust and heat,
Rise from disaster and defeat
The stronger,
And conscious still of the divine
Within them, lie on earth supine
No longer.
I love it! I had never read this one before and I don't believe this is in the HWL collection I have.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Jim