Classic and Contemporary Poetry
REALITY, by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL Poet's Biography First Line: Reality, reality, / lord jesus christ thou art to me! Last Line: "unveiled, thy ""bright reality""?" Subject(s): Jesus Christ; Reality | ||||||||
Reality, reality, Lord Jesus Christ Thou art to me! From the spectral mist and the driving clouds, From the shifting shadows and phantom crowds From unreal words and unreal lives, Where truth with falsehood feebly strives; From the passings away, the chance and change, Flickerings, vanishings, swift and strange, I turn to my glorious rest in Thee, Who art the grand Reality! Reality in greatest need, Lord Jesus Christ Thou art indeed! Is the pilot real who alone can guide The drifting ship o'er the midnight tide? Is the life-boat real, as it nears the wreck, And the saved ones leap from the parting deck? Is the haven real, where the barque may flee From the autumn gales of the wild north sea? Reality indeed art Thou, My pilot, life-boat, haven now. Reality, reality, In the brightest days art Thou to me! Thou art the sunshine of my mirth, Thou art the heaven above my earth, The spring of love of all my heart, And the fountain of my song Thou art; For dearer than the dearest now, And better than the best art Thou, Beloved Lord, in whom I see Joy-giving, glad Reality. Reality, reality, Lord Jesus Thou hast been to me, When I thought the dream of life was past And "the Master's home-call" come at last; When I thought I had only to wait A little while at the Golden Gate-- Only another day or two, Till Thou thyself shouldst bear me through; How real Thy presence was to me! How precious Thy Reality! Reality, reality, Lord Jesus Christ Thou art to me; Thy name is sweeter than songs of old, Thy words are better than "most fine gold." Thy deeds are greater than hero-glory, Thy life is grander than poet story; But Thou, thyself for aye the same Art more than words and life and name! Thyself Thou hast revealed to me, In glorious reality. Reality, reality, Lord Jesus Christ, is crowned in Thee, In Thee is every type fulfilled, In Thee is every yearning stilled For perfect beauty, truth and love: For Thou art always far above The grandest glimpse of our Ideal, Yet more and more we know Thee real, And marvel more and more to see Thine infinite Reality. Reality, reality, Lord Jesus Christ Thou art to me! My glorious king, my Lord, my God, Life is too short for half the laud, For half the debt of praise I owe, For this blest knowledge that "I know The reality of Jesus Christ"-- Unmeasured blessing, gift unpriced! Will I not praise Thee when I see In the long noon of Eternity Unveiled, Thy "bright reality"? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JASON THE REAL by TONY HOAGLAND APPEARANCE AND REALITY by JOHN HOLLANDER A WORKING PRINCIPLE by DAVID IGNATOW THE REVOLUTIONARY by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN REAL AND HALF REAL by ROBINSON JEFFERS CONSECRATION HYMN by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL I DID THIS FOR THEE! WHAT HAST THOU DONE FOR ME? by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL A BIRTHDAY GREETING TO MY FATHER, 1860 by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL |
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