77 



THE WORSHIP OF NATURE. 



The ocean looketh up to heaven 



As 'twere a living thing; 

 The homage of its waves is given 



In ceaseless worshiping. 



They kneel upon the sloping sand, 



As bends the human knee, 

 A beautiful and tireless band, 



The priesthood of the sea ! 



They pour the glittering treasures out 

 Which in the deep have birth, 



And chant their awful hymns about 

 The watching hills of earth. 



The green earth sends its incense up 

 From every mountain-shrine, 



From every flower and dewy cup 

 That greeteth the sunshine. 



The mists are lifted from the rills, 

 . Like the white wing of prayer : 

 They lean above the ancient hills 

 As doing homage there. 



The forest-tops are lowly cast 



O'er breezy hill and glen, 

 As if a prayerful spirit pass'd 



On nature as on men. 



The clouds weep o'er the fallen world, 



E'en as repentant love ; 

 Ere, to the blessed breeze unfurl'd, 



They fade in light above. 



The sky is as a temple's arch, 



The blue and wavy air 

 Is glorious with the spirit-march 



Of messengers at prayer. 



The gentle moon, the kindling sun, 



The many stars are given, 

 As shrines to burn earth's incense on, 



The altar-fires of Heaven ! 



John Greenleaf Whittier. 



