Poem Lake | The Greatest Poems of All Time

The Conversion of Saint Paul The Midday sun, with fiercest glare, Broods over the hazy, twinkling air; Along the level sand The palm-tree’s shade unwavering lies, Just as thy towers, Damascus, rise To greet yon wearied band. The leader of that martial crew ... Poet: John Keble	The Ladder of Saint Augustine Saint Augustine! well hast thou said, That of our vices we can frame A ladder, if we will but tread Beneath our feet each deed of shame! All common things, each day’s events, That with the hour begin and end, Our pleasures and our... Poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow	Saint Christopher “CARRY me across!” The Syrian heard, rose up, and braced His huge limbs to the accustomed toil: “My child, see how the waters boil? The night-black heavens look angry-faced; But life is little loss. “I ’ll carry thee with... Poet: Dinah Maria Mulock Craik	“To heaven approached a Sufi Saint” From the Persian by William R. Alger TO heaven approached a Sufi Saint, From groping in the darkness late, And, tapping timidly and faint, Besought admission at God’s gate. Said God, “Who seeks to enter here?” “’T is I, dear Friend,” the... Poet: Jalal ad-Din Rumi
Saint Agnes Deep on the convent-roof the snows Are sparkling to the moon: My breath to heaven like vapor goes: May my soul follow soon! The shadows of the convent-towers Slant down the snowy sward, Still creeping with the creeping hours That... Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson	A Song for Saint Cecilia’s Day, 1687 From harmony, from heavenly harmony, This universal frame began; When Nature underneath a heap Of jarring atoms lay, And could not heave her head The tuneful voice was heard from high, Arise, ye more than dead! Then... Poet: John Dryden	Saint Peter’s at Rome From “Childe Harold,” Canto IV. VASTNESS which grows, but grows to harmonize, All musical in its immensities; Rich marbles, richer painting, shrines where flame The lamps of gold, and haughty dome which vies In air with earth’s chief structures,... Poet: Lord Byron	A Passage in the Life of Saint Augustine Long pored Saint Austin o’er the sacred page, And doubt and darkness overspread his mind; On God’s mysterious being thought the Sage, The Triple Person in one Godhead joined. The more he thought, the harder did he find To solve the various doubts... Poet: Anonymous
Saint Anthony’s Sermon to the Fishes Saint Anthony at church Was left in the lurch, So he went to the ditches And preached to the fishes; They wriggled their tails, In the sun glanced their scales. The carps, with their spawn, Are all hither drawn; Have opened their... Poet: Anonymous	I Rubens am a Statesman & a Saint *** * *** I Rubens am a Statesman & a Saint Deceptions? O no—so I'll learn to Paint^[4] Poet: