Browse Sermon Illustrations
2,202 illustrations available
123. Lines to an Old Sweetheart
ONCE fondly lov’d, and still remember’d dear, Sweet early object of my youthful vows, Accept this mark of friendship, warm, sincere, Friendship! ’tis all cold duty now allows. And when you read th
'Mighty Eagle'
SUPPOSED TO BE ADDRESSED TO WILLIAM GODWIN. Mighty eagle! thou that soarest O'er the misty mountain forest, And amid the light of morning Like a cloud of glory hiest, And when night descends defiest
117. Song—Farewell to Eliza
FROM thee, Eliza, I must go, And from my native shore; The cruel fates between us throw A boundless ocean’s roar: But boundless oceans, roaring wide, Between my love and me, They never, never ca
16. A Prayer under the Pressure of Violent Anguish
O THOU Great Being! what Thou art, Surpasses me to know; Yet sure I am, that known to Thee Are all Thy works below. Thy creature here before Thee stands, All wretched and distrest; Yet sure th
166. Epitaph for William Nicol, High School, Edinburgh
YE maggots, feed on Nicol’s brain, For few sic feasts you’ve gotten; And fix your claws in Nicol’s heart, For deil a bit o’t’s rotten.
Primeval my Love for the Woman I Love.
PRIMEVAL my love for the woman I love, O bride! O wife! more resistless, more enduring than I can tell, the thought of you! Then separate, as disembodied, the purest born, The ethereal, the last athle
Dying! Dying in the night!
Dying! Dying in the night! Won't somebody bring the light So I can see which way to go Into the everlasting snow? And "Jesus"! Where is Jesus gone? They said that Jesus -- always came -- Perhaps he d
She rose as high as His Occasion
She rose as high as His Occasion Then sought the Dust -- And lower lay in low Westminster For Her brief Crest --
To tell the Beauty would decrease
To tell the Beauty would decrease To state the Spell demean -- There is a syllable-less Sea Of which it is the sign -- My will endeavors for its word And fails, but entertains A Rapture as of Legacies
'Twas here my summer paused
'Twas here my summer paused What ripeness after then To other scene or other soul My sentence had begun. To winter to remove With winter to abide Go manacle your icicle Against your Tropic Bride.
The pretty Rain from those sweet Eaves
The pretty Rain from those sweet Eaves Her unintending Eyes -- Took her own Heart, including ours, By innocent Surprise -- The wrestle in her simple Throat To hold the feeling down That vanquished he
"Heavenly Father" -- take to thee
"Heavenly Father" -- take to thee The supreme iniquity Fashioned by thy candid Hand In a moment contraband -- Though to trust us -- seems to us More respectful -- "We are Dust" -- We apologize to thee
A Poison Tree
I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow. And I watered it in fears Night and morning with my tears, And I sunned it wi
Song. Translated From the Italian
Oh! what is the gain of restless care, And what is ambitious treasure? And what are the joys that the modish share, In their sickly haunts of pleasure? My husband's repast with delight I spread, What
Water, is taught by thirst.
Water, is taught by thirst. Land -- by the Oceans passed. Transport -- by throe -- Peace -- by its battles told -- Love, by Memorial Mold -- Birds, by the Snow.
The Little Boy Found
The little boy lost in the lonely fen, Led by the wandering light, Began to cry, but God, ever nigh, Appeared like his father, in white. He kissed the child, and by the hand led, And to his mot
Witchcraft was hung, in History,
'Twas such a little -- little boat That toddled down the bay! 'Twas such a gallant -- gallant sea That beckoned it away! 'Twas such a greedy, greedy wave That licked it from the Coast -- Nor ever gue
Song from The Silent Woman
Still to be neat, still to be dressed, As you were going to a feast; Still to be powdered, still perfumed: Lady, it is to be presumed, Though art's hid causes are not found, All is not sweet, all is n
We should not mind so small a flower
We should not mind so small a flower -- Except it quiet bring Our little garden that we lost Back to the Lawn again. So spicy her Carnations nod -- So drunken, reel her Bees -- So silver steal a hund
In Horologium
Inter marmoreas Leonorae pendula colles Fortunata nimis Machina dicit horas. Quas MANIBUS premit illa duas insensa papillas Cur mihi sit DIGITO tangere, amata, nefas?
Give Me Women, Wine, and Snuff
GIVE me women, wine, and snuff Untill I cry out "hold, enough!" You may do so sans objection Till the day of resurrection: For, bless my beard, they aye shall be My beloved Trinity.
Moonless Darkness Stands Between
Moonless darkness stands between. Past, the Past, no more be seen! But the Bethlehem-star may lead me To the sight of Him Who freed me From the self that I have been. Make me pure, Lord: Thou art holy
My wheel is in the dark!
My wheel is in the dark! I cannot see a spoke Yet know its dripping feet Go round and round. My foot is on the Tide! An unfrequented road -- Yet have all roads A clearing at the end -- Some have res
Look Down, Fair Moon.
LOOK down, fair moon, and bathe this scene; Pour softly down night’s nimbus floods, on faces ghastly, swollen, purple; On the dead, on their backs, with their arms toss’d wide, Pour down your unstinte