Above And Below Poem by James Russell Lowell

Above And Below

Rating: 2.7


I

O dwellers in the valley-land,
Who in deep twilight grope and cower,
Till the slow mountain's dial-hand
Shorten to noon's triumphal hour,
While ye sit idle, do ye think
The Lord's great work sits idle too?
That light dare not o'erleap the brink
Of morn, because 'tis dark with you?

Though yet your valleys skulk in night,
In God's ripe fields the day is cried,
And reapers, with their sickles bright,
Troop, singing, down the mountain-side:
Come up, and feel what health there is
In the frank Dawn's delighted eyes,
As, bending with a pitying kiss,
The night-shed tears of Earth she dries!

The Lord wants reapers: oh, mount up,
Before night comes, and says, 'Too late!'
Stay not for taking scrip or cup,
The Master hungers while ye wait;
'Tis from these heights alone your eyes
The advancing spears of day can see,
That o'er the eastern hill-tops rise,
To break your long captivity.


II

Lone watcher on the mountain-height,
It is right precious to behold
The first long surf of climbing light
Flood all the thirsty east with gold;
But we, who in the shadow sit,
Know also when the day is nigh,
Seeing thy shining forehead lit
With his inspiring prophecy.

Thou hast thine office; we have ours;
God lacks not early service here,
But what are thine eleventh hours
He counts with us for morning cheer;
Our day, for Him, is long enough,
And when He giveth work to do,
The bruised reed is amply tough
To pierce the shield of error, through.

But not the less do thou aspire
Light's earlier messages to preach;
Keep back no syllable of fire,
Plunge deep the rowels of thy speech.
Yet God deems not thine aeried sight
More worthy than our twilight dim;
For meek Obedience, too, is Light,
And following that is finding Him.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Upendra Upm 10 June 2017

It ends with thought of God.Following that (light) if finding HIM in a valley land where twilight is very dark due to it being covered by high hills.

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JORgE 30 September 2021

What does this poem refer to?

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Susan Williams 10 June 2017

The Lord wants reapers: oh, mount up, Before night comes, and says, 'Too late! '- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -A defining couplet. To follow is to serve.

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Kayode Are 10 June 2017

Great appeal to work and to serve; very eloquent.

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Edward Kofi Louis 10 June 2017

In the valley-land! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

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Bernard F. Asuncion 10 June 2017

In God's ripe fields.....thanks for posting.....

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James Russell Lowell

James Russell Lowell

Cambridge, Massachusetts
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