Religion

The Divine Likeness

by Gerald Massey 1828–1907

From My Lyrical Life, First Series (1889)

Religion

Spirit Divine, we yearn and strive
Within our souls to keep alive
Some likeness of Thy love!
But 'tis at best a glimpse, a gleam,
Uncertain as a troubled stream
Reflects the heavens above.

The more we strive, the more we seem
To mar the vision; break the beam
Of glory that we chase.
A breath disturbs Thy still design;
We try to mirror the Divine,
And blur what we embrace.

Spirit Divine, brood down and fill
Us with Thy calm and make us still;
All sighing cares to cease.
Our restless longings cannot hold
The face of heaven unless it fold
Us round and whisper " Peace.'"

✦ ✦ ✦

From the section "Hymns" of My Lyrical Life, First Series (1889).

MLA

Massey, Gerald. “The Divine Likeness.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/massey/196/.

Chicago

Massey, Gerald. “The Divine Likeness.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/massey/196/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Gerald Massey