Rejoice, said the Sun; “I will make thee gay
With glory and gladness and holiday;
I am dumb, O man, and I need thy voice!”
But man would not rejoice.
“Rejoice in thyself,” said he, “O Sun,
For thy daily course is a lordly one;
In thy lofty place rejoice if thou can:
For me, I am only a man.”
“Rejoice,” said the Wind; “I am free and strong,
And will wake in thy heart an ancient song;
Hear the roaring woods, my organ noise!”
But man would not rejoice.
“Rejoice, O Wind, in thy strength,” said he,
“For thou fulfillest thy destiny;
Shake the forest, the faint flowers fan;
For me, I am only a man.”
“Rejoice,” said the Night, “with moon and star,
For the Sun and the Wind are gone afar;
I am here with rest and dreaming choice!”
But man would not rejoice;
For he said—”What is rest to me, I pray,
Whose labour leads to no gladsome day?
He only can dream who has hope behind:
Alas for me and my kind!”
Then a voice that came not from moon or star,
From the sun, or the wind that roved afar,
Said, “Man, I am with thee—hear my voice!”
And man said, “I rejoice.”
(George MacDonald)
More Poetry from George MacDonald:
George MacDonald Poems based on Topics: Man, Night, Fate & Destiny- Somnium Mystici (George MacDonald Poems)
- A Story of the Sea-Shore (George MacDonald Poems)
- The Disciple (George MacDonald Poems)
- A Book of Dreams: Part I (George MacDonald Poems)
- Light (George MacDonald Poems)
- Concerning Jesus (George MacDonald Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, Night Poems, Fate & Destiny PoemsBased on Keywords: roved, thee-, said-, fulfillest
- The Hind And The Panther, A Poem In Three Parts : Part I. (John Henry Dryden Poems)
- The Tragedy of White Injustice (Marcus Mosiah Garvey Poems)
- Resignation Pt 1 (Edward Young Poems)
- The Minstrel; Or, The Progress Of Genius : Book I. (James Beattie Poems)
- A Poem On The African Slave Trade. Addressed To Her Own Sex. Part II (Mary Birkett Card Poems)