quote · Legacy record
Let us think less of men and more of God. Sometimes the thought comes swiftening over us, Like a small bird winging the still blue air; And then again, at other times, it rises Slow, like a cloud, which scales the skies all breathless, And just overhead lets itself down on us, Sometimes we feel the wish across the mind Rush like a rocket tearing up the sky, That we should join with God, and give the world The slip: but, while we wish, the world turns round And peeps us in the face—the wanton world; We feel it gently pressing down our arm— The arm we had raised to do for truth such wonders; We feel it softly bearing on our side— We feel it touch and thrill us through the body,— And we are fools, and there’s the end of us.
Let us think less of men and more of God. Sometimes the thought comes swiftening over us, Like a small bird winging the still blue air; And then again, at other times, it rises Slow, like a cloud, which scales the skies all breathless, And just overhead lets itself down on us, Sometimes we feel the wish across the mind Rush like a rocket tearing up the sky, That we should join with God, and give the world The slip: but, while we wish, the world turns round And peeps us in the face—the wanton world; We feel it gently pressing down our arm— The arm we had raised to do for truth such wonders; We feel it softly bearing on our side— We feel it touch and thrill us through the body,— And we are fools, and there’s the end of us.
In print by 1921 AD · modern
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
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Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- P. J. Bailey (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
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- In print by 1921 AD · modern
In print by 1921: recorded in My Commonplace Book (third English edition,1921). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- My Commonplace Book (third English edition,1921) (1921 AD)
Page 21 · printed citation: P. J. Bailey (Festus). · compiler notes excluded
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.