Religion

Beata

by Coventry Patmore 1823–1896

From The Unknown Eros (1890), Book I

Religion

Of infinite Heaven the rays,
Piercing some eyelet in our cavern black,
Ended their viewless track
On thee to smite
Solely, as on a diamond stalactite,
And in mid-darkness lit a rainbow's blaze,
Wherein the absolute Reason, Power, and Love,
That erst could move
Mainly in me but toil and weariness,
Renounced their deadening might,
Renounced their undistinguishable stress
Of withering white,
And did with gladdest hues my spirit caress,
Nothing of Heaven in thee showing infinite,
Save the delight.

MLA

Patmore, Coventry. “Beata.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/patmore/30/.

Chicago

Patmore, Coventry. “Beata.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/patmore/30/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Coventry Patmore