Author: Madison Julius Cawein
High up in the organ-story A girl stands slim and fair; And touched with the casement's glory Gleams out her radiant hair. The young priest kneels at the altar, Then lifts the Host above; And the psalm intoned from the psalter Is pure with patient love. A sweet bell chimes; and a censer Swings gleaming in the gloom; The candles glimmer and denser Rolls up the pale perfume. Then high in the organ choir A voice of crystal soars, Of patience and soul's desire, That suffers and adores. And out of the altar's dimness An answering voice doth swell, Of passion that cries from the grimness And anguish of its own hell. High up in the organ-story One kneels with a girlish grace; And, touched with the vesper glory, Lifts her madonna face. One stands at the cloudy altar, A form bowed down and thin; The text of the psalm in the psalter He reads, is sorrow and sin.
Type of Poem: Lyric Poem
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: This poem is a vivid exploration of religious devotion, spiritual suffering, and the human connection to divine beauty. The narrative unfolds in a church, where two key characters, a young priest and a fair girl, are engaged in their respective acts of worship. The themes of purity, love, patience, and desire are woven into the narrative, which is underscored by a palpable sense of melancholy.
The poem's tone is somber yet reverential, capturing the quietly profound moments of religious observance. The structure of the poem adds to this tone, with a rhythm and rhyme scheme that evoke the solemnity and rhythm of a church service. The poet employs imagery and metaphor effectively, painting a picture of the liturgical setting and the characters' emotional states. The "radiant hair" touched by the "casement's glory" and the "madonna face" touched by the "vesper glory" are striking instances of this, symbolizing the divine illumination of the earthly. The use of the organ-story as a recurring motif underscores the interplay of the celestial and the human, highlighting the spiritual journey of the characters. The contrasting voices in the organ choir, one "of patience and soul's desire" and the other "of passion that cries from the grimness," represent the dual aspects of religious experience: the yearning for divine connection and the pain of human transgression. The poem ends on a poignant note, with the priest's reading of sorrow and sin, reflecting the inherent struggle in the pursuit of spiritual sanctity.
Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.
Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:
From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.