Poem: “St. John” by Victor Hugo

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French Literature – French Poetry – Victor Hugo – Poems by Victor Hugo
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St. John

(“Un jour, le morne esprit, le prophète sublime“)

{Bk. VI. vii., Jersey, September, 1855.}

One day, the sombre soul, the Prophet most sublime
At Patmos who aye dreamed,
And tremblingly perused, without the vast of Time,
Words that with hell-fire gleamed,

Said to his eagle: “Bird, spread wings for loftiest flight—
Needs must I see His Face!”
The eagle soared. At length, far beyond day and night,
Lo! the all-sacred Place!

And John beheld the Way whereof no angel knows
The name, nor there hath trod;
And, lo! the Place fulfilled with shadow that aye glows
Because of very God.

NELSON R. TYERMAN.

La tour des rats de Victor Hugo - 1847 — La tour des rats de Victor Hugo – 1847

< < < Epitaph
The Poet’s Simple Faith > > >

French Literature – French Poetry – Victor Hugo – Poems by Victor Hugo

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St. John

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