Elizabeth Barrett Browning - The Poet's Vow (Showing How The Vow Was Kept) lyrics

I. He dwelt alone, and sun and moon  Were witness that he made Rejection of his humanness  Until they seemed to fade; His face did so, for he did grow  Of his own soul afraid. II. The self-poised God may dwell alone  With inward glorying, But God's chief angel waiteth for  A brother's voice, to sing; And a lonely creature of sinful nature  It is an awful thing. III. An awful thing that feared itself;  While many years did roll, A lonely man, a feeble man,  A part beneath the whole, He bore by day, he bore by night That pressure of God's infinite  Upon his finite soul. IV. The poet at his lattice sate,  And downward lookèd he. Three Christians wended by to prayers,  With mute ones in their ee; Each turned above a face of love  And called him to the far chapèlle With voice more tuneful than its bell:  But still they wended three. V. There journeyed by a bridal pomp,  A bridegroom and his dame; He speaketh low for happiness,  She blusheth red for shame: But never a tone of benison  From out the lattice came. VI. A little child with inward song,  No louder noise to dare, Stood near the wall to see at play  The lizards green and rare— Unblessed the while for his childish smile  Which cometh unaware.