Marriage Song

    "They have no more wine!" she said.
    But they had enough of bread;
    And the vessels by the door
    Held for thirst a plenteous store:
    Yes, enough; but Love divine
    Turned the water into wine!

    When should wine like water flow,
    But when home two glad hearts go!
    When, in sacred bondage bound,
    Soul in soul hath freedom found!
    Such the time when, holy sign,
    Jesus turned the water wine.

    Good is all the feasting then;
    Good the merry words of men;
    Good the laughter and the smiles;
    Good the wine that grief beguiles;--
    Crowning good, the Word divine
    Turning water into wine!

    Friends, the Master with you dwell!
    Daily work this miracle!
    When fair things too common grow,
    Bring again their heavenly show!
    Ever at your table dine,
    Turning water into wine!

    So at last you shall descry
    All the patterns of the sky:
    Earth a heaven of short abode;
    Houses temples unto God;
    Water-pots, to vision fine,
    Brimming full of heavenly wine.

George MacDonald

George MacDonald (1824–1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister best known for his fairy tales and fantasy novels. He was a pioneer in the fantasy genre, influencing notable writers such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. His major works include "Phantastes" and "Lilith," as well as numerous poems and other literary works. MacDonald's writings are characterized by their imaginative qualities and deep spiritual insight.

George MacDonald

Bird-Songs.

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

To The Clouds.

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

Abu Midjan

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

What Makes Summer?

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

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A Thanksgiving.

I Thank Thee, boundless Giver,
    That the thoughts Thou givest flow
In sounds that like a river
    All through the darkness go.
And though few should swell the pleasure,
    By sharing this my wine,
My heart will clasp its treasure,
    This secret gift of Thine.

My heart the joy inherits,
    And will oft be sung to rest;
And some wandering hoping spirits
    May listen and be blest.
For the sound may break the hours
    In a dark and gloomy mood,
As the wind breaks up the bowers
    Of the brooding sunless wood.

For every sound of gladness
    Is a prophet-wind that tells
Of a summer without sadness,
    And a love without farewells;
And a heart that hath no ailing,
    And an eye that is not dim,
And a faith that...

George MacDonald

0 Lord, How Happy!

From the German of Dessler.

O Lord, how happy is the time
    When in thy love I rest!
When from my weariness I climb
    Even to thy tender breast!
The night of sorrow endeth there--
    Thou art brighter than the sun;
And in thy pardon and thy care
    The heaven of heaven is won.

Let the world call herself my foe,
    Or let the world allure--
I care not for the world; I go
    To this dear friend and sure.
And when life's fiercest storms are sent
    Upon life's wildest sea,
My little bark is confident
    Because it holds by thee.

When the law threatens endless death
    Upon the dreadful hill,
Straightway from her consuming breath
    My soul goeth higher still--
Goeth to Jesus, wounded, slain,
    A...

George MacDonald

Hunger

Father, I cry to thee for bread
    With hungred longing, eager prayer;
Thou hear'st, and givest me instead
    More hunger and a half-despair.

0 Lord, how long? My days decline,
    My youth is lapped in memories old;
I need not bread alone, but wine--
    See, cup and hand to thee I hold!

And yet thou givest: thanks, O Lord,
    That still my heart with hunger faints!
The day will come when at thy board
    I sit, forgetting all my plaints.

If rain must come and winds must blow,
    And I pore long o'er dim-seen chart,
Yet, Lord, let not the hunger go,
    And keep the faintness at my heart.

George MacDonald

Drawing Water.

Dark, as if it would not tell,
    Lies the water, still and cool:
Dip the bucket in the well,
    Lift it from the precious pool!

Up it comes all brown and dim,
    Telling of the twilight sweet:
As it rises to the brim
    See the sun and water meet!

See the friends each other hail!
    "Here you are!" cries Master Sun;
Mistress Water from the pail
    Flashes back, alive with fun!

Have you not a tale to tell,
    Water, as I take you home?
Tell me of the hidden well
    Whence you, first of all, did come.

Of it you have kept some flavour
    Through long paths of darkling strife:
Water all has still a savour
    Of the primal well of life!

Could you show the lovely way
    Back and up through sea and sk...

George MacDonald

A Meditation Of St. Eligius

Queen Mary one day Jesus sent
    To fetch some water, legends tell;
The little boy, obedient,
    Drew a full pitcher from the well;

But as he raised it to his head,
    The water lipping with the rim,
The handle broke, and all was shed
    Upon the stones about the brim.

His cloak upon the ground he laid
    And in it gathered up the pool; [Proverbs xxx. 4.]
Obedient there the water staid,
    And home he bore it plentiful.

Eligius said, "Tis fabled ill:
    The hands that all the world control,
Had here been room for miracle,
    Had made his mother's pitcher whole!

"Still, some few drops for thirsty need
    A poor invention even, when told
In love of thee the Truth indeed,
    Like broken pitcher yet may hold:...

George MacDonald

Song Of Fellowship.

In ev'ry hour of joy

That love and wine prolong,
The moments we'll employ

To carol forth this song!
We're gathered in His name,

Whose power hath brought us here;
He kindled first our flame,

He bids it burn more clear.

Then gladly glow to-night,

And let our hearts combine!
Up! quaff with fresh delight

This glass of sparkling wine!
Up! hail the joyous hour,

And let your kiss be true;
With each new bond of power

The old becomes the new!

Who in our circle lives,

And is not happy there?
True liberty it gives,

And brother's love so fair.
Thus heart and heart through life

With mutual love are fill'd;
And by no causeless strife

Our union e'er is chill...

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe