Song-Sermon

In his arms thy silly lamb,
Lo, he gathers to his breast!
See, thou sadly bleating dam,
See him lift thy silly lamb!
Hear it cry, "How blest I am!
Here is love, and love is rest!"
In his arms thy silly lamb
See him gather to his breast!

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

A Dream Song

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

Christmas Day, 1850

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

The Hills.

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

George Rolleston

George MacDonald, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

A Song In The Night.

A brown bird sang on a blossomy tree,
Sang in the moonshine, merrily,
Three little songs, one, two, and three,
A song for his wife, for himself, and me.

He sang for his wife, sang low, sang high,
Filling the moonlight that filled the sky;
"Thee, thee, I love thee, heart alive!
Thee, thee, thee, and thy round eggs five!"

He sang to himself, "What shall I do
With this life that thrills me through and through!
Glad is so glad that it turns to ache!
Out with it, song, or my heart will break!"

He sang to me, "Man, do not fear
Though the moon goes down and the dark is near;
Listen my song and rest thine eyes;
Let the moon go down that the sun may rise!"

I folded me up in the heart of his tune,
And fell asleep with the sinking moon;
...

George MacDonald

Song-Sermon

Mercy to thee, O Lord, belongs,
For as his work thou giv'st the man.
From us, not thee, come all our wrongs;
Mercy to thee, O Lord, belongs:
With small-cord whips and scorpion thongs
Thou lay'st on every ill thy ban.
Mercy to thee, O Lord, belongs,
For as his work thou giv'st the man.

George MacDonald

Translations. - Another Christ-Song. (Luther's Song-Book.)

From heaven the angel-troop come near
And to the shepherds plain appear:
A tender little child, they cry,
In a rough manger lies hard by,

In Bethlehem, David's town of old,
As Prophet Micah has foretold;
'Tis the Lord Jesus Christ, I wis,
Who of you all the saviour is.

And ye may well break out in mirth
That God is one with you henceforth;
For he is born your flesh and blood--
Your brother is the eternal Good.

He will nor can from you go hence;
Put you in him your confidence.
However many you assail,
Defy them--He can never fail!

What can death do to you, or sin?
The true God is to you come in.
Let hell and Satan raging go--
The Son of God's your comrade now!

At last you must approval win,
For you are now ...

George MacDonald

A Baby-Sermon

The lightning and thunder
They go and they come:
But the stars and the stillness
Are always at home.

George MacDonald

Song Of The Saints And Angels

JANUARY 26, 1885.


    Gordon, the self-refusing,
    Gordon, the lover of God,
    Gordon, the good part choosing,
    Welcome along the road!

    Thou knowest the man, O Father!
    To do thy will he ran;
    Men's praises he did not gather:
    There is scarce such another man!

    Thy black sheep's faithful shepherd
    Who knew not how to flee,
    Is torn by the desert leopard,
    And comes wounded home to thee!

    Home he is coming the faster
    That the way he could not miss:
    In thy arms, oh take him, Master,
    And heal him with a kiss!

    Then give him a thousand cities
    To rule till their evils cease,
    And their wailing minor ditties
    Die in a psalm of peace.

George MacDonald

Song-Sermon.

Lord, what is man
That thou art mindful of him!
Though in creation's van,
Lord, what is man!
He wills less than he can,
Lets his ideal scoff him!
Lord, what is man
That thou art mindful of him!

George MacDonald