The Seraph and Poet

The seraph sings before the manifest 
God-one, and in the burning of the Seven, 
And with the full life of consummate Heaven 
Heaving beneath him like a mother’s breast 
Warm with her first-born’s slumber in that nest! 
The poet sings upon the earth grave-riven: 
Before the naughty world soon self-forgiven 
For wronging him; and in the darkness prest 
From his own soul by worldly weights. Even so, 
Sing, seraph with the glory! Heaven is high— 
Sing, poet with the sorrow! Earth is low. 
The universe’s inward voices cry 
‘Amen’ to either song of joy and wo— 
Sing seraph, —poet, —sing on equally