Poetry Codex

Victorian

George MacDonald

1824–1905

George MacDonald (1824–1905) was a Scottish minister turned author, celebrated for fantasy novels such as Phantastes and The Princess and the Goblin, and a lifelong writer of devotional and reflective verse.

His poems return often to faith, fatherhood, nature, and the soul's struggle toward trust in a loving God.

Poems (649)

  1. Song of the Monks (from Within and Without)
  2. Song of the Monks (from Within and Without), continued
  3. Farewell, Lilia!
  4. A Hidden Life
  5. To Them That Mourn
  6. The Story
  7. The Disciple: VII
  8. The Disciple: VIII
  9. The Disciple: IX
  10. The Disciple: X
  11. The Disciple: XI
  12. The Disciple: XII
  13. The Disciple: XIII
  14. The Disciple: XVI
  15. The Disciple: XVII
  16. The Disciple: XVIII
  17. The Disciple: XIX
  18. The Disciple: XX
  19. The Disciple: XXI
  20. The Disciple: XXII
  21. The Disciple: XXIII
  22. The Disciple: XXIV
  23. The Disciple: XXV
  24. The Disciple: XXVI
  25. The Disciple: XXVII
  26. The Disciple: XXVIII
  27. The Disciple: XXIX
  28. The Disciple: XXX
  29. The Disciple: XXXI
  30. The Disciple: XXXII
  31. The Woman That Lifted Up Her Voice
  32. The Mother of Zebedee's Children
  33. The Syrophenician Woman
  34. The Widow of Nain
  35. The Woman Whom Satan Had Bound
  36. The Woman Who Came Behind Him in the Crowd
  37. The Widow with the Two Mites
  38. The Women Who Ministered Unto Him
  39. Pilate's Wife
  40. The Woman of Samaria
  41. Mary Magdalene
  42. The Woman in the Temple
  43. Martha
  44. The Woman That Was a Sinner
  45. The Burnt-offering
  46. The Unseen Face
  47. Concerning Jesus: XIV
  48. Concerning Jesus: XV
  49. To Garibaldi--with a Book
  50. Russell Gurney
  51. To Aubrey De Vere
  52. The Chrysalis
  53. The Sweeper of the Floor
  54. With the Following Poem
  55. Light
  56. I Would I Were a Child
  57. A Prayer for the Past
  58. Longing
  59. I Know What Beauty is
  60. Sympathy
  61. The Thank-offering
  62. Prayer
  63. O Do Not Leave Me
  64. Blessed Are the Meek, for They Shall Inherit the Earth
  65. Hymn for a Sick Girl
  66. Written for One in Sore Pain
  67. The Year of the Trouble in Lancashire
  68. A Christmas Carol
  69. The Sleepless Jesus
  70. Christmas, 1873
  71. Christmas, 1884
  72. A Song for Christmas
  73. To My Aging Friends
  74. Christmas Song of the Old Children
  75. Christmas Meditation
  76. The Old Castle
  77. Christmas Prayer
  78. Song of the Innocents
  79. Christmas Day and Every Day
  80. The Children's Heaven
  81. Rejoice
  82. The Grace of Grace
  83. Antiphon
  84. Dorcas
  85. Marriage Song
  86. Blind Bartimeus
  87. Come Unto Me
  88. Morning Hymn
  89. Noontide Hymn
  90. Evening Hymn
  91. The Holy Midnight
  92. Rondel
  93. Home from the Wars
  94. God; Not Gift
  95. To Any Friend
  96. Hope Deferred
  97. Death
  98. Hard Times
  99. If I Were a Monk, and Thou Wert a Nun
  100. The Flower-angels
  101. Oh Thou of Little Faith_!
  102. Wild Flowers
  103. Spring Song
  104. Summer Song
  105. Autumn Song
  106. Winter Song
  107. A Dream Song
  108. At My Window After Sunset
  109. A Father to a Mother
  110. The Temple of God
  111. Going to Sleep
  112. To-morrow
  113. Foolish Children
  114. Love is Home
  115. Faith
  116. Waiting
  117. Our Ship
  118. My Heart Thy Lark
  119. Two in One
  120. Bedtime
  121. A Prayer
  122. A Song Prayer
  123. A Book of Dreams, Part I: IV
  124. A Book of Dreams, Part I: V
  125. A Book of Dreams, Part II: I
  126. A Book of Dreams, Part II: II
  127. A Book of Dreams, Part II: III
  128. A Book of Dreams, Part II: VI
  129. Better Things
  130. An Old Sermon with a New Text
  131. Little Elfie
  132. Reciprocity
  133. The Shadows
  134. The Child-mother
  135. He Heeded Not
  136. The Sheep and the Goat
  137. The Wakeful Sleeper
  138. A Dream of Waking
  139. A Manchester Poem
  140. What the Lord Saith
  141. How Shall He Sing Who Hath No Song_?
  142. This World
  143. Saint Peter
  144. Zacchaeus
  145. To Lady Noel Byron
  146. To the Same
  147. To Aurelio Saffi
  148. George Rolleston
  149. To Gordon, Leaving Khartoum
  150. January 26, 1885
  151. Failure
  152. Lady Caroline Charteris
  153. A Cry
  154. From Home
  155. To My Mother Earth
  156. Thy Heart
  157. No Sign
  158. November, 1851
  159. Of One Who Died in Spring
  160. An Autumn Song
  161. I See Thee Not
  162. A Broken Prayer
  163. Come Down
  164. A Mood
  165. The Carpenter
  166. The Old Garden: IV
  167. The Old Garden: V
  168. The Old Garden: VI
  169. The Old Garden: VII
  170. A Noonday Melody
  171. Who Lights the Fire_?
  172. Who Would Have Thought_?
  173. Christmas Day, 1850
  174. To a February Primrose
  175. In February
  176. The True
  177. The Dwellers Therein
  178. Autumn's Gold
  179. Punishment
  180. Shew Us the Father
  181. The Pinafore
  182. Sleep
  183. Sharing
  184. In Bonds
  185. Hunger
  186. New Year's Eve: a Waking Dream
  187. From North Wales: to the Mother
  188. Come to Me
  189. A Fear
  190. The Lost House
  191. A Fragment
  192. The Goal
  193. The Healer
  194. Oh That a Wind
  195. Of the Son of Man
  196. Rondel
  197. Words in the Night
  198. Consider the Ravens
  199. The Wind of the World
  200. Sabbath Bells
  201. Fighting
  202. After the Fashion of an Old Emblem
  203. A Prayer in Sickness
  204. Quiet Dead!
  205. Let Your Light So Shine
  206. The Souls' Rising
  207. Awake!
  208. To an Autograph-hunter
  209. With a Copy of "in Memoriam."
  210. They Are Blind
  211. When the Storm Was Proudest
  212. From Schiller
  213. To the Clouds
  214. Second Sight
  215. Not Understood
  216. The Dawn
  217. Galileo
  218. Subsidy
  219. The Prophet
  220. The Watcher
  221. The Lily of the Valley
  222. Evil Influence
  223. Spoken of Several Philosophers
  224. Nature a Moral Power
  225. To June
  226. Summer
  227. On a Midge
  228. Steadfast
  229. Provision
  230. First Sight of the Sea
  231. On the Source of the Arve
  232. Confidence
  233. Fate
  234. Unrest
  235. One with Nature
  236. Sudden Calm
  237. Thou Also
  238. The Aurora Borealis
  239. The Human
  240. Written on a Stormy Night
  241. Reverence Waking Hope
  242. Born of Water
  243. To a Thunder-cloud
  244. Sun and Moon
  245. Doubt Heralding Vision
  246. Life or Death?
  247. Lost and Found
  248. The Moon
  249. Truth, Not Form!
  250. God in Growth
  251. In a Churchyard
  252. Power
  253. Death
  254. That Holy Thing
  255. From Novalis
  256. What Man is There of You?
  257. O Wind of God
  258. Shall the Dead Praise Thee?
  259. A Year Song
  260. For Where Your Treasure is, There Will Your Heart Be Also
  261. The Asthmatic Man to the Satan That Binds Him
  262. Shadows
  263. A Winter Prayer
  264. Song of a Poor Pilgrim
  265. An Evening Prayer
  266. Song-sermon
  267. A Dream-song
  268. Christmas, 1880
  269. The Sparrow
  270. Song-prayer_: After King David
  271. December 27, 1879
  272. December 28, 1879
  273. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: VIII
  274. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: IX
  275. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: X
  276. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: XI
  277. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: XII
  278. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: XIII
  279. Room to Roam
  280. I.--by the Cradle
  281. Ii.--sweeping the Floor
  282. Iii.--washing the Clothes
  283. Iv.--drawing Water
  284. V.--cleaning the Windows
  285. The Wind and the Moon
  286. The Foolish Harebell
  287. Song
  288. An Improvisation
  289. Equity
  290. Contrition
  291. To_ ----
  292. To a Sister
  293. Annie She's Dowie
  294. O Lassie Ayont the Hill_!
  295. The Bonny, Bonny Dell
  296. Nannie Braw
  297. Gaein and Comin
  298. A Sang O' Zion
  299. Time and Tide
  300. The Waesome Carl
  301. The Mermaid
  302. The Yerl O' Waterydeck
  303. The Twa Gordons: I
  304. The Twa Gordons: II
  305. The Twa Gordons: III
  306. The Last Wooin
  307. Halloween
  308. The Laverock
  309. I.--this Side An' That
  310. Ii.--the Twa Baubees
  311. Iii.--wha's My Neibour?
  312. Iv.--him Wi' the Bag
  313. V.--the Coorse Cratur
  314. The Deil's Forhooit His Ain
  315. The Auld Fisher
  316. The Herd and the Mavis
  317. A Lown Nicht
  318. The Home of Death
  319. Triolet
  320. Win' That 'blaws
  321. A Song of Hope
  322. The Burnie
  323. Hame
  324. The Sang O' the Auld Fowk
  325. The Auld Man's Prayer
  326. Granny Canty
  327. Time
  328. What the Auld Fowk Are Thinkin
  329. Greitna, Father
  330. I Ken Something
  331. Mirls
  332. To My Father: I
  333. To My Father: II
  334. A Story of the Sea-Shore: Introduction
  335. The Disciple: Dedication
  336. The Disciple: I
  337. The Disciple: II
  338. The Disciple: III
  339. The Disciple: IV
  340. The Disciple: V
  341. The Disciple: VI
  342. The Disciple: XIV
  343. The Disciple: XV
  344. The Mother Mary: I
  345. The Mother Mary: II
  346. The Mother Mary: III
  347. The Mother Mary: IV
  348. The Mother Mary: V
  349. Mary: I
  350. Mary: II
  351. Concerning Jesus: I
  352. Concerning Jesus: II
  353. Concerning Jesus: III
  354. Concerning Jesus: IV
  355. Concerning Jesus: V
  356. Concerning Jesus: VI
  357. Concerning Jesus: VII
  358. Concerning Jesus: VIII
  359. Concerning Jesus: IX
  360. Concerning Jesus: X
  361. Concerning Jesus: XI
  362. Concerning Jesus: XII
  363. Concerning Jesus: XIII
  364. Concerning Jesus: XVI
  365. Concerning Jesus: XVII
  366. Concerning Jesus: XVIII
  367. A Memorial of Africa: I
  368. A Memorial of Africa: II
  369. A.M.D
  370. To S.F.S
  371. To One Threatened with Blindness: I
  372. To One Threatened with Blindness: II
  373. General Gordon: I
  374. General Gordon: II
  375. Death
  376. To A. J. Scott
  377. A Prayer for the Past (continued)
  378. Rest: I
  379. Rest: II
  380. Rest: III
  381. Rest: IV
  382. An Old Story: I
  383. An Old Story: II
  384. An Old Story: III
  385. An Old Story: IV
  386. A Song for Christmas: II
  387. A Prayer
  388. My Heart: I
  389. My Heart: II
  390. My Heart: III
  391. To My Sister: I
  392. To My Sister: II
  393. To My Sister: III
  394. Picture Songs: I
  395. Picture Songs: II
  396. Picture Songs: III
  397. Picture Songs: IV
  398. Songs of the Summer Days: I
  399. Songs of the Summer Days: II
  400. Songs of the Summer Days: III
  401. Songs of the Summer Days: IV
  402. Songs of the Summer Nights: I
  403. Songs of the Summer Nights: II
  404. Songs of the Summer Nights: III
  405. Songs of the Summer Nights: IV
  406. Songs of the Autumn Days: I
  407. Songs of the Autumn Days: II
  408. Songs of the Autumn Days: III
  409. Songs of the Autumn Days: IV
  410. Songs of the Autumn Nights: I
  411. Songs of the Autumn Nights: II
  412. Songs of the Autumn Nights: III
  413. Songs of the Autumn Nights: IV
  414. Songs of the Winter Days: I
  415. Songs of the Winter Days: II
  416. Songs of the Winter Days: III
  417. Songs of the Winter Days: IV
  418. Songs of the Winter Nights: I
  419. Songs of the Winter Nights: II
  420. Songs of the Winter Nights: III
  421. Songs of the Winter Nights: IV
  422. Songs of the Spring Days: I
  423. Songs of the Spring Days: II
  424. Songs of the Spring Days: III
  425. Songs of the Spring Days: IV
  426. Songs of the Spring Nights: I
  427. Songs of the Spring Nights: II
  428. Songs of the Spring Nights: III
  429. Songs of the Spring Nights: IV
  430. A Book of Dreams, Part I: I
  431. A Book of Dreams, Part I: II
  432. A Book of Dreams, Part I: III
  433. A Book of Dreams, Part I: VI
  434. A Book of Dreams, Part II: IV
  435. A Book of Dreams, Part II: V
  436. After Thomas Kempis: I
  437. After Thomas Kempis: II
  438. After Thomas Kempis: III
  439. After Thomas Kempis: IV
  440. After Thomas Kempis: V
  441. After Thomas Kempis: VI
  442. After Thomas Kempis: VII
  443. After Thomas Kempis: VIII
  444. A Thanksgiving for F.D. Maurice
  445. To E.G., Dedicating a Book
  446. To G.M.T
  447. The Man of Songs
  448. The Hills
  449. The Journey: I
  450. The Journey: II
  451. The Journey: III
  452. The Journey: IV
  453. The Tree's Prayer
  454. Were I a Skilful Painter
  455. Far and Near: I
  456. Far and Near: II
  457. Far and Near: III
  458. Far and Near: IV
  459. My Room
  460. Death and Birth
  461. Love's Ordeal
  462. The Lost Soul
  463. The Three Horses
  464. The Golden Key
  465. Somnium Mystici: I
  466. Somnium Mystici: II
  467. Somnium Mystici: III
  468. Somnium Mystici: IV
  469. Somnium Mystici: V
  470. Somnium Mystici: VI
  471. Somnium Mystici: VII
  472. Somnium Mystici: VIII
  473. Somnium Mystici: IX
  474. Somnium Mystici: X
  475. Somnium Mystici: XI
  476. Somnium Mystici: XII
  477. Somnium Mystici: XIII
  478. Somnium Mystici: XIV
  479. Somnium Mystici: XV
  480. Somnium Mystici: XVI
  481. Somnium Mystici: XVII
  482. Somnium Mystici: XVIII
  483. Somnium Mystici: XIX
  484. Somnium Mystici: XX
  485. The Sangreal: I
  486. The Sangreal: II
  487. The Sangreal: III
  488. The Sangreal: IV
  489. The Sangreal: V
  490. The Sangreal: VI
  491. The Sangreal: VII
  492. The Failing Track
  493. Tell Me
  494. Brother Artist
  495. After an Old Legend
  496. A Meditation of St Eligius
  497. The Early Bird
  498. Sir Lark and King Sun
  499. The Owl and the Bell
  500. A Mammon-marriage
  501. A Song in the Night
  502. Love's History
  503. The Lark and the Wind
  504. A Dead House
  505. Bell upon Organ
  506. Master and Boy
  507. The Clock of the Universe
  508. The Thorn in the Flesh
  509. Lycabas
  510. The Unseen Model
  511. The Homeless Ghost
  512. Abu Midjan
  513. The Thankless Lady
  514. Legend of the Corrievrechan
  515. The Dead Hand
  516. In the Night
  517. The Giver
  518. False Prophets
  519. Life-weary
  520. Approaches
  521. Travellers' Song
  522. Love is Strength
  523. Coming
  524. Song of the Waiting Dead
  525. Obedience
  526. A Song in the Night
  527. De Profundis
  528. Blind Sorrow
  529. Angels
  530. The Father's Worshippers
  531. A Birthday-wish
  532. To Any One
  533. Waiting
  534. Lost but Safe
  535. Much and More
  536. Hope and Patience
  537. A Better Thing
  538. A Prisoner
  539. To My Lord and Master
  540. To One Unsatisfied
  541. To My God
  542. Triolet
  543. The Word of God
  544. Eine Kleine Predigt
  545. To the Life Eternal
  546. Hope Deferred
  547. Forgiveness
  548. Dejection
  549. Appeal
  550. Lessons for a Child: I
  551. Lessons for a Child: II
  552. Lessons for a Child: III
  553. What Makes Summer?
  554. Mother Nature
  555. The Mistletoe
  556. Professor Noctutus
  557. Bird-songs
  558. Riddles: I
  559. Riddles: II
  560. Riddles: III
  561. Riddles: IV
  562. Baby
  563. Up and Down
  564. Up in the Tree
  565. A Baby-sermon
  566. Little Bo-peep
  567. Little Boy Blue
  568. Willie's Question: I
  569. Willie's Question: II
  570. Willie's Question: III
  571. Willie's Question: IV
  572. Willie's Question: V
  573. King Cole
  574. Said and Did
  575. Dr. Doddridge's Dog
  576. The Girl That Lost Things
  577. A Make-believe
  578. The Christmas Child
  579. A Christmas Prayer
  580. No End of No-story
  581. To Greville Matheson MacDonald
  582. The Haunted House
  583. In the Winter
  584. Christmas Day, 1878
  585. The New Year
  586. Two Rondels: I
  587. Two Rondels: II
  588. Rondel
  589. Song
  590. Smoke
  591. To a Certain Critic
  592. Song
  593. O Lord, How Happy!
  594. Triolet
  595. The Old Garden: I
  596. The Old Garden: II
  597. The Old Garden: III
  598. On a December Day: I
  599. On a December Day: II
  600. The Prism: I
  601. The Prism: II
  602. A Vision of St. Eligius: I
  603. A Vision of St. Eligius: II
  604. A Vision of St. Eligius: III
  605. Triolet
  606. The Beloved Disciple: I
  607. The Beloved Disciple: II
  608. My Two Geniuses: I
  609. My Two Geniuses: II
  610. My Two Geniuses: III
  611. Song
  612. Song-sermon
  613. Rondel
  614. December 23, 1879: I
  615. December 23, 1879: II
  616. December 23, 1879: III
  617. December 23, 1879: IV
  618. December 23, 1879: V
  619. December 23, 1879: VI
  620. December 23, 1879: VII
  621. Song-sermon
  622. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: I
  623. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: II
  624. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: III
  625. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: IV
  626. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: V
  627. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: VI
  628. The Donkey in the Cart to the Horse in the Carriage: VII
  629. Contrition: I
  630. Contrition: II
  631. Contrition: III
  632. Ower the Hedge: I
  633. Ower the Hedge: II
  634. A Gift
  635. A Dream Within a Dream: The Outer Dream
  636. A Dream Within a Dream: The Inner Dream
  637. A Dream Within a Dream: The Outer Dream (continued)
  638. Four Sonnets: II
  639. Four Sonnets: III
  640. Four Sonnets: IV
  641. Longing (Early Poems)
  642. My Eyes Make Pictures
  643. The Death of the Old Year
  644. A Thanksgiving
  645. Song
  646. Song
  647. Here lie I, Martin Elginbrodde
  648. What Christ Said
  649. Little White Lily

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