Nature

Sabbath Bells

by George MacDonald 1824–1905

From The poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes — Volume 2

Nature

Oh holy Sabbath bells,
Ye have a pleasant voice!
Through all the land your music swells,
And man with one commandment tells
To rest and to rejoice.

As birds rejoice to flee
From dark and stormy skies
To brighter lands beyond the sea
Where skies are calm, and wings are free
To wander and to rise;

As thirsty travellers sing,
Through desert paths that pass,
To hear the welcome waters spring,
And see, beyond the spray they fling
Tall trees and waving grass;

So we rejoice to know
Your melody begun;
For when our paths are parched below
Ye tell us where green pastures glow
And living waters run.

MLA

MacDonald, George. “Sabbath Bells.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/macdonald/199/.

Chicago

MacDonald, George. “Sabbath Bells.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/macdonald/199/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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