1 No longer forward nor behind
I look in hope or fear;
but, grateful, take the good I find,
the best of now and here.
I break my pilgrim staff,
I lay aside the toiling oar;
the angel sought so far away
I welcome at my door.
2 For all the jarring notes of life
seem blending in a psalm,
and all the angles of its strife
slow rounding into calm.
And so the shadows fall apart,
and so the west winds play;
and all the windows of my heart
I open to the day.
Whittier, John Greenleaf, the American Quaker poet, was born at Haverhill, Massachusetts, Dec. 17, 1807. He began life as a farm-boy and shoemaker, and subsequently became a successful journalist, editor and poet. In 1828 he became editor of the American Manufacturer (Boston), in 1830 of the New England Review, and an 1836 (on becoming Secretary to the American Anti-Slavery Society) of the Pennsylvania Freeman. He was also for some time, beginning with 1847, the corresponding editor of the National Era. In 1840 he removed to Amesbury, Massachusetts, where most of his later works have been written. At the present time [1890] he lives alternately at Amesbury and Boston. His first poetical piece was printed in the Newburyport Free Press in 182… Go to person page >
Display Title: No Longer Forward nor BehindFirst Line: No longer forward nor behindTune Title: VAN DIEMAN'S LANDAuthor: John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807-1892Meter: 8.6.8.6.6.8.8.6.Date: 1993Subject: Morning | ; Serenity | ; The Eternal Now | ; Transcending Mystery and Wonder | The Celebration of Life
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running.
Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro
to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.