Religion
How great is little man!
From Verses (1893)
How great is little man!
Sun, moon, and stars respond to him,
Shine or grow dim
Harmonious with his span.
How little is great man!
More changeable than changeful moon,
Nor half in tune
With Heaven’s harmonious plan.
Ah, rich man! ah, poor man!
Make ready for the testing day
When wastes away
What bears not fire or fan.
Thou heir of all things, man,
Pursue the saints by heavenward track:
They looked not back;
Run thou, as erst they ran.
Little and great is man:
Great if he will, or if he will
A pigmy still;
For what he will he can.
Codex Note
Verses (1893), section: Songs for Strangers and Pilgrims.
Cite this poem
MLA
Rossetti, Christina. “How great is little man!” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/rossetti_c/821/.
Chicago
Rossetti, Christina. “How great is little man!” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/rossetti_c/821/.
Read this poem with the Codex →