Life And Nature

I passed through the gates of the city
The streets were strange and still
Through the doors of the open churces
The organs were moaning shrill
Through the doors and the great high windows
I heard the murmur of prayer,
And the sound of solemn singing
Streamed out on the sunlit air;
A sound of some great burden
That lay on the world's dark breast,
Of the old, and the sick, and the lonely,
And the weary that cried for rest

I strayed through the midst of the city
Like one distracted or mad
"Oh, Life ! Oh, Life !" I kept saying,
And the very word seemed sad.
A passed through the gates of the city,
And I heard the small bird sing,
I laid me down in the meadows
A far from the bell-ringing
In the depth and the bloom quit breast,
The poplar fanned me with shadows,
And the weeru sang me to rest.


Blue, blue was the heaven above me,
And the earth green at my feet;
Oh, Life ! Oh,Life ! " I keept saying
And the very word seemed sweet.

Author: Archibald Lampman