Poems (Rossetti, 1901)/"I will lift up mine Eyes unto the Hills"

by Christina Georgina Rossetti

"I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS."

I AM pale with sick desire,
 For my heart is far away
From this world's fitful fire
 And this world's waning day;
In a dream it overleaps
 A world of tedious ills
To where the sunshine sleeps
 On the everlasting hills.—
 Say the Saints: There Angels ease us
  Glorified and white.
 They say: We rest in Jesus,
  Where is not day or night.

My soul saith: I have sought
 For a home that is not gained,
I have spent yet nothing bought,
 Have laboured but not attained;
My pride strove to mount and grow,
 And hath but dwindled down;
My love sought love, and lo!
 Hath not attained its crown.—
 Say the Saints: Fresh souls increase us,
  None languish or recede.
 They say: We love our Jesus,
  And He loves us indeed.

I cannot rise above,
 I cannot rest beneath,
I cannot find out love,
 Or escape from death;
Dear hopes and joys gone by
 Still mock me with a name;
My best beloved die,
 And I cannot die with them.—
 Say the Saints: No deaths decrease us,
  Where our rest is glorious.
 They say: We live in Jesus,
  Who once died for us.

O my soul, she beats her wings
 And pants to fly away
Up to immortal things
 In the heavenly day:
Yet she flags and almost faints;
 Can such be meant for me?—
Come and see, say the Saints
 Saith Jesus: Come and see.
 Say the Saints: His pleasures please us
  Before God and the Lamb.
 Come and taste My sweets, saith Jesus:
  Be with Me where I am.