Wednesday, July 8, 2026

John Hall Wheelock (1886-1978): "Exile From God"

I do not fear to lay my body down

                             In death, to share

The life of the dark earth, and lose my own,

                              If God is there.


I have so loved all sense of Him, sweet might

                              Of colour and of sound, --

His tangible loveliness and living light

                              That robes me 'round.


If to His heart in the hushed grave and dim

                                We sink more near,

It shall be well -- living we rest in Him.

                                 Only I fear


Lest from my God in lonely death I lapse,

                                 And the dumb clod,

Lose Him; for God is life, and death perhaps

                                 Exile from God.



The Golden Book of Catholic Poetry, edited by Alfred Noyes, 1946



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