THE WATERFALL' poem by Henry Vaughan
Tags: HenryVaughan THEWATERFALL poem Wales RNaudioproductions literature web series performing arts humanities social science
Length: 2:21
Description: THE WATERFALL' poem by Henry Vaughan
read by Angharad Rees
With what deep murmurs,through time's silent stealth,
Doth thy transparent, cool, and wat'ry wealth,
Here flowing fall, and chide and call,
As if his liquid, loose retinue stay'd ling'ring,
and were of this steep place afraid,
The common pass, Where clear as glass,
All must descend , Not to an end,
But quick'ned by this deep and rocky grave,
Rise to a longer course more bright and brave.
Dear stream ! dear bank ! where often I have sat,
and pleased my pensive eye ;
Why, since each drop of thy quick store runs thither whence it flow'd before,
Should poor souls fear a shade or night, who came—sure—from a sea of light ?
Or, since those drops are all sent back So sure to Thee
that none doth lack,
Why should frail flesh doubt any more
That what God takes He'll not restore ?
O useful element and clear ! my sacred wash and
cleanser here ;
My first consigner unto those fountains of life,
where the Lamb goes !
What sublime truths and wholesome themes lodge
in thy mystical, deep streams !
Such as dull man can never find, unless that Spirit
lead his mind,
Which first upon thy face did move and hatch'd
all with His quick'ning love.
As this loud brook's incessant fall in streaming rings
restagnates all,
Which reach by course the bank,
and then are no more seen :
Just so pass men.
O my invisible estate, My glorious liberty, still late !
Thou art the channel my soul seeks,
Not this with cataracts and creeks.
Audio created by Robert Nichol AudioProductions London all rights reserved
Author: JustAudio2008
Source: YouTube
