Benedictio Domini
Ernest Christopher Dowson 1867 – 1900
Without, the sullen noises of the street!
The voice of London, inarticulate,
Hoarse and blaspheming, surges in to meet
The silent blessing of the Immaculate.
Dark is the church, and dim the worshippers,
Hushed with bowed heads as though by some old spell.
While through the incense-laden air there stirs
The admonition of a silver bell.
Dark is the church, save where the altar stands,
Dressed like a bride, illustrious with light,
Where one old priest exalts with tremulous hands
The one true solace of man's fallen plight.
Strange silence here: without, the sounding street
Heralds the world's swift passage to the fire:
O Benediction, perfect and complete!
When shall men cease to suffer and desire?
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 36 sec read
- 108 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | AXAX BCBC DEDE AFAF |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 695 |
Words | 118 |
Stanzas | 4 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4 |
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"Benedictio Domini" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/12776/benedictio-domini>.
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