Nature

An Ode (The spacious firmament on high)

by Joseph Addison 1672–1719

From Poems on Several Occasions

Nature

The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled Heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
The unwearied Sun from day to day
Does his Creator's power display;
And publishes, to every land,
The work of an almighty hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The Moon takes up the wondrous tale;
And nightly, to the listening Earth,
Repeats the story of her birth:
Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets, in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.

What though, in solemn silence, all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball;
What though no real voice, nor sound
Amidst their radiant orbs be found:
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;
For ever singing as they shine:
'The hand that made us is divine.'

MLA

Addison, Joseph. “An Ode (The spacious firmament on high).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/addison/14/.

Chicago

Addison, Joseph. “An Ode (The spacious firmament on high).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/addison/14/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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