The Catechism

The Catechism written by Walter de la Mare

The Veil and Other Poems (1921)

Link to further information

'Hast thou then nought wiser to bring
Than worn-out songs of moon and of rose?'
'Cracked my voice, and broken my wing,
God knows.'

'Tell'st thou no truth of the life that is;
Seek'st thou from heaven no pitying sign?'
'Ask thine own heart these mysteries,
Not mine.'

'Where then the faith thou hast brought to seed?
Where the sure hope thy soul would feign?'
'Never ebbed sweetness -- even out of a weed --
In vain.'

'Fool. The night comes. . . . 'Tis late. Arise.
Cold lap the waters of Jordan stream.'
'Deep be their flood, and tranquil thine eyes
With a dream.'

This work is in the public domain in countries where the copyright term is the author's life plus 50 years or less, but may still be copyrighted in the USA and some countries in Europe. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether the works are in the public domain in his or her respective country.