FACE upward to the sky <br />Quiet I lie: <br />Quiet as if the finger of God's will <br />Had bade this human mechanism 'be still!' <br />And sent the intangible essence, this strange I, <br />All wondering forth to His eternity. <br /> <br />Below, the sea's sound, faint <br />As dying saint <br />Telling of gone-by sorrows long at rest: <br />Above, the fearless sea-gull's shimmering breast <br />Painted a moment on the dark blue skies-- <br />A hovering joy, that while I watch it flies. <br /> <br />Alike unheeded now <br />Old griefs, and thou <br />Quick-wingèd Joy, that like a bird at play <br />Pleasest thyself to visit me to-day: <br />On the cliff-top, earth dim and heaven clear, <br />My soul lies calmly, above hope--or fear. <br /> <br />But not--(do Thou forbid <br />Whose stainless lid <br />Wept tears at Lazarus' grave, and looking down <br />Afar off, upon Solyma's doomed town.) <br />Ah, not above love--human yet divine-- <br />Which, Thee seen first, in Thee sees all of Thine! <br /> <br />Is't sunset? The keen breeze <br />Blows from the seas: <br />And at my side a pleasant vision stands <br />With her brown eyes and kind extended hands. <br />Dear, we'll go down together and full fain <br />From the cliff-top to the busy world again.<br /><br />Dinah Maria Mulock Craik<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-the-cliff-top/
