Saturday, December 13, 2008

So brief a time we have...

Panasonic LX1, 1/400 sec, f4, -0.33 EV, ISO 80, 28mm Equivalent (Click to Enlarge)

A voice says, "Cry out."
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever."

(Isaiah 40:6-8)

"All Flesh Is Grass"by Christina Rossetti

So brief a life, and then an endless life
Or endless death;
So brief a life, then endless peace or
strife:
Whoso considereth
How man but like a flower
Or shoot of grass
Blooms an hour,
Well may sigh "Alas!"

So brief a life, and then an endless grief
Or endless joy;
So brief a life, then ruin or relief:
What solace, what annoy
Of Time needs dwelling on?
It is, it was,
It is done,
While we sigh "Alas!"

Yet saints are singing in a happy hope
Forecasting pleasure,
Bright eyes of faith enlarging all their
scope;
Saints love beyond Time's measure:
Where love is, there is bliss
That will not pass;
Where love is,
Dies away "Alas!"

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Our choir just sang a LOVELY setting of this poem for Ash Wednesday service, by Chris Massa. I was VERY impressed with this Lauridsen-like octavo; if you love this poem and you love music, I encourage you to find a copy of this choral piece. It illuminates the poem beautifully!

Peace!

Andrew Jackson said...

Using the words of "All Flesh is Grass" in a funeral sermon today. The key is that "the Word of our God stands forever" or as Rossetti put it love forever or as Saint Paul put it nothing can separate us from the love of God
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.