Nature's Worship

Deem it not an idle thought 
From the dreaming fancy wrought, 
That the great Creative Soul 
Thrills through the created whole, 
And that conscious Nature gives 
To the Life in which she lives 
Tribute meet of praise and prayer, 
Evermore and everywhere!

Day to day doth utter speech, 
Night to night her lore doth teach; 
And their voices manifold 
Over farthest space are rolled: 
Mingling in the Upper Calm, 
Lo ! they form a solemn psalm, 
And their music sweet and clear 
Fills, like light, our atmosphere.

Earth nor mountain hath, nor glen, 
Solitude, nor haunt of men, 
Flowery knoll, nor sterile sod, 
But is conscious of its God! 
And in springing blade or brake, 
Or the sand grain's curious make, 
Or the dark mould, testifies 
"He is good as He is wise!"

Every flower that from its cup 
Sendeth sweetest incense up, 
Every shrub where hum the bees 
Their day-long monotonies, 
Every leaf whose tender green 
Silvers in the shimmering sheen,
Every blade of dewy grass 
Trembling as the breezes pass —

Every gentle wind that plays 
With the tassels of the maize, 
Or along the billowy plain 
Rolls the waves of golden grain; 
Every bird that soars and sings, 
Shaking from its quivering wings 
Drops of such melodious rain 
Who has heard would hear again —

Every insect of to-day 
Buzzing its brief life away, 
Born with the ascending sun, 
Dying ere the day is done, 
Tells of God, and joins its hymn 
With the chants of Seraphim, 
As they cry His throne before, 
“Holy! Holy! Evermore!”

Other sounds are blent with these 
In divinest harmonies, 
Till the air that round us floats 
Quivers with their rhythmic notes! 
Through the spaces, near and far, 
Sweeping on from star to star 
Is the glorious anthem sent 
To the farthest firmament!

In the old primeval woods
With their holy solitudes;
On the mount's untrodden crest
Where the snows of centuries rest;
In the farthermost recess
Of the tangled wilderness,
Still from Nature's heart are poured
Praises to the Sovereign Lord!

Where the silver-footed rills 
Laugh and babble down the hills; 
Where the river's statelier sweep 
Bears its tribute to the deep; 
Where, in tempest or in calm, 
Ocean intonates his psalm, 
Ceaseless worship Nature gives 
To the life in which she lives!

Soul of man, awake! aspire! 
Join the myriad- voiced choir; 
Let thy hymns of praise combine 
With the anthem all divine; 
With ascriptions pure and sweet 
Make the melody complete, 
And the glorious strain prolong 
With the spirit's crowning song!