Thu 5 Apr 2007
Here is a wonderful hymn by Samuel Johnson. Yes, Boswell’s Johnson. It is not a sonnet and I found it in a murder mystery by Edmund Crispin
I am feeling pretty pleased. I have given you a book, a poem and an Easter week hymn all in one post.
City of God, How broad and Far
City of God, how broad and far
outspread thy walls sublime!
The true thy chartered freemen are
of every age and clime.One holy Church, one army strong;
one steadfast, high intent;
one working band, one harvest song,
one King omnipotent.How purely hath thy speech come down
from man’s primeval youth!
How grandly hath thine empire grown
of freedom, love and truth!How gleam thy watch fires through the night
with never fainting ray!
How rise thy towers, serene and bright,
to meet the dawning day!In vain the surge’s angry shock,
in vain the drifting sands;
unharmed upon the eternal Rock
the eternal City stands.
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And.. you’re up and at ‘em EARLY
*She gets up while it is still dark;*
Blessings fm GA,
Dana
PS BTW Loved the *combo* entry
Comment by Dana (April 5, 2007 @ 7:16 am )
I have The Moving Toyshop by Crispin, but haven’t ever read it. I will have to go dig it out to put in the book pile.
I just read some about Boswell and Johnson, about how Johnson was such an admirable character and his friend Boswell was not, but that Boswell obviously admired all that was admirable in Johnson and now we can, too. Another book I need to read.
I like the line about “the surge’s angry shock.” Great alliteration, making us think of the ’s’ word to which it alludes: sin (and I wonder why he used “drifting” instead of “shifting” with sands in the next line…maybe he thought too much alliteration was overkill?) Speaking of overkill, The Surge is a popular term today for empire builders. I like how this poem, written by a man who was part of the mighty British empire (during its early colonial days), understood to what kingdom we owe allegiance.
See, commenting on poetry isn’t that hard ;-).
Comment by Carmon (April 5, 2007 @ 10:03 am )
Carmon,
I thought the same thing about empire. It made me wonder if things like the glory of the British Empire are tiny pictures of the glory of the Kingdom of God. I also have a future post with a quote by Jacques Barzun about the lifespan of empires and the return to barbarism earthly empires experience. Thankfully Christ’s kingdom goes from glory to glory not barbarism to barbarism.
I particularly liked the phrase, “One harvest song.” I don’t know why.
Comment by Cindy (April 5, 2007 @ 10:14 am )