318. The Clouds by William Croswell. Stedman, Edmund Clarence, ed. 1900. An American Anthology, 1787-1900

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

318. The Clouds

By William Croswell


I CANNOT look above and see
Yon high-piled, pillowy mass
Of evening clouds, so swimmingly
In gold and purple pass,
And think not, Lord, how thou wast seen	5
On Israel’s desert way,
Before them, in thy shadowy screen,
Pavilioned all the day!

Or, of those robes of gorgeous hue
Which the Redeemer wore,	10
When, ravished from his followers’ view,
Aloft his flight he bore;
When lifted, as on mighty wing,
He curtained his ascent,
And, wrapt in clouds, went triumphing	15
Above the firmament.

Is it a trail of that same pall
Of many-colored dyes,
That high above, o’ermantling all,
Hangs midway down the skies,—	20
Or borders of those sweeping folds
Which shall be all unfurled
About the Saviour, when he holds
His judgement on the world?

For in like manner as he went,—	25
My soul, hast thou forgot?—
Shall be his terrible descent,
When man expecteth not!
Strength, Son of man, against that hour,
Be to our spirits given,	30
When thou shalt come again with power,
Upon the clouds of heaven!