Living

Peace

by Henry Alford 1810–1871

From The Poetical Works (1859)

Living

I have found Peace in the bright earth
And in the sunny sky:
By the low voice of summer seas,
And where streams murmur by;

I find it in the quiet time
Of voices that I love:
By the flickering of a twilight fire,
And in a leafless grove;

I find it in the silent flow
Of solitary thought:
In calm half-meditated dreams,
And reasonings self-taught;

But seldom have I found such peace,
As in the soul's deep joy
Of passing onward free from harm
Through every day's employ.

If gems we seek, we only tire,
And lift our hopes too high;
The constant flowers that line our way
Alone can satisfy.

MLA

Alford, Henry. “Peace.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/alford/132/.

Chicago

Alford, Henry. “Peace.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/alford/132/.

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