The almost mystic exaltation of the power of poetic sympathy
which inspired these intense lines, `Into the Woods my Master went',
may impair their religious effect for many devout souls.
But to many others this short poem will express most wonderfully
that essential human-heartedness in the Son of Man, our Divine Saviour,
which made Him one with us in His need of the quiet,
sympathetic ministrations of nature -- perhaps the heart of the reason
why this olive-grove was `the place where He was wont to go' for prayer."
See St. Luke 22:39.
For Lanier's other poems on Christ see `Introduction',
p. xxxvii f. [Part III].
Sunrise
In my sleep I was fain of their fellowship, fain [1]
Of the live-oak, the marsh, and the main.
The little green leaves would not let me alone in my sleep;
Up-breathed from the marshes, a message of range and of sweep,
Interwoven with waftures of wild sea-liberties, drifting,
Came through the lapped leaves sifting, sifting,
Came to the gates of sleep.
Then my thoughts, in the dark of the dungeon-keep
Of the Castle of Captives hid in the City of Sleep,
Upstarted, by twos and by threes assembling:
The gates of sleep fell a-trembling [11]
Like as the lips of a lady that forth falter "yes",
Shaken with happiness:
The gates of sleep stood wide.
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