BEAUTIFUL WORLD

by: John Stuart Blackie (1809-1895)

hough bigots condemn thee,

My tongue finds no words

For the graces that gem thee!

Beaming with sunny light,

Bountiful ever,

Streaming with gay delight,

Full as a river!

Bright world! brave world!

Let cavillers blame thee!

I bless thee, and bend

To the God who did frame thee!




Beautiful world!

Bursting around me,

Manifold, million-hued

Wonders confound me!

From earth, sea, and starry sky,

Meadow and mountain,

Eagerly gushes

Life's magical fountain.

Bright world! brave world!

Though witlings may blame thee,

Wonderful excellence

Only could frame thee!




The bird in the greenwood

His sweet hymn is trolling,

The fish in blue ocean

Is spouting and rolling!

Light things on airy wing

Wild dances weaving,

Clods with new life in spring

Swelling and heaving!

Thou quick-teeming world,

Though scoffers may blame thee,

I wonder, and worship

The God who could frame thee!




Beautiful world!

What poesy measures

Thy strong-flooding passions,

Thy light-trooping pleasures?

Mustering, marshalling,

Striving and straining,

Conquering, triumphing,

Ruling and reigning!

Thou bright-armied world!

So strong, who can tame thee?

Wonderful power of God

Only could frame thee!




Beautiful world!

While godlike I deem thee,

No cold wit shall move me

With bile to blaspheme thee!

I have lived in thy light,

And, when Fate ends my story,

May I leave on death's cloud

The bright trail of life's glory!

Wondrous old world!

No ages shall shame thee!

Ever bright with new light

From the God who did frame thee!

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