By Bliss Carman
I took a day to search for God,
and found Him not. But as I trod
by rocky ledge, through woods untamed,
just where one scarlet lily flamed,
I saw His footprint in the sod.
Then suddenly, all unaware,
Far off in the deep shadows, where
A solitary hermit thrush
Sang through the Holy twilight hush
I heard His voice upon the air.
And even as I marveled how
God gives us Heaven here and now,
In a stir of wind that hardly shook
the poplar leaves beside the brook –
His hand was light upon my brow.
At last with evening as I turned
Homeward, and thought what I had learned
and all that there was still to probe –
I caught the glory of His robe
Where the last fires of sunset burned.
Back to the world with quickening start
I looked and longed for any part
In making saving Beauty be…..
And from that kindling ecstasy
I knew God dwelt within my heart.
William Bliss Carman- ( April 15, 1861 – June 8, 1929 ) was a Canadian poet who lived most of his life in the United States, where he achieved international fame. He was acclaimed as Canada’s poet laureate during his later years.
