WONDER

 WONDER (EXCERPTS) by Thomas Traherne (1633-1674)

 How like an angel came I down! How bright are all things here!

 The world resembled His eternity, in which my soul did walk

 The skies in their magnificence, Oh how divine, how soft, how sweet, how fair.

 And all the works of God so bright and pure, so rich and great did seem.

 With seas of life like wine, I nothing in the world did know but twas divine

 Only things revealed which heavenly spirits and the angels prize.

 The streets were paved with golden stones

 The sons of men were holy ones,

 In joy and beauty they appeared to me.

 Rare splendours, mine eyes did everywhere behold.

 Great wonders clothed with glory did appear.

 Amazement was by bliss.

 NO joy to this!

 The stars did entertain my sense

 SO rich and great did seem

 And while my God did all his glories show.

 Oppressions, tear and cries 

 Sins, griefs, complaints, dissensions, weeping eyes ...

 Were hid, and only things revealed which heavenly spirits and the angels prize.

 Note: Traherne's lines are beautifully undistracted. He truly was an innocent and saw only the beauty and good around him.

Poem Excerpts: "Wonder" by Thomas Traherne from A Treasure of Great Poems ( 1942)