Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. You can also use the up (↑) and down (↓) arrows to move a line one place at a time, or the top (⇑) and bottom (⇓) arrows to move a line directly to the top or bottom. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.
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Awhile the visible countenance of Him;
Pictured those glorious lineaments, will be
A little shadow of a childish face,
When life's hard lessons have been conned and learn'd;
The light wherein the little features shine,
They will re-settle when the soul is still'd,
Stirred up and troubled like a stormy sea;—
Before me now a little picture lies—
In glory and in beauty infinite.
The mirror clear, unsullied by a breath.
They will re-settle in the calm of death,
But 'twill be there—the likeness—to the last.
Ah! while I look, and trace each tender line,
When the sweet eyes are laid asleep, and when
Across that sunshine—it may be to dim
Its passions, its wild longings, and its pain;
Of thought and wisdom on her lips and eyes.
More lovely for the trouble and the tears.
Some day the lucid waters, in which lie
Strange, mystic light, so undefined and faint,
God's likeness, in the fair face of a child,
Some day the earthly shadows will be cast
When this child's beauty will have all return'd,
Made in our image—sure 'tis that we see,
So far too pure for any words to paint—
Ay, as I look, it seems quite plain to me.
Bring me the echo of the words God said.
This self-same face, yet like the face of Him,
Transparent skin, with blue veins shining through—
You've successfully reconstructed the poem! Your understanding of poetry and attention to detail is impressive.
Before me now a little picture lies— A little shadow of a childish face, Childishly sweet, yet with the dawning grace Of thought and wisdom on her lips and eyes.
Fair, oval, broad-brow'd face—small, delicate head— Transparent skin, with blue veins shining through— All the soft outlines, beautiful and true, Bring me the echo of the words God said.
Made in our image—sure 'tis that we see, God's likeness, in the fair face of a child, By the world's sin and passion undefiled— Ay, as I look, it seems quite plain to me.
The light wherein the little features shine, Strange, mystic light, so undefined and faint, So far too pure for any words to paint— 'Tis a reflection of the Face divine.
Some day the earthly shadows will be cast Across that sunshine—it may be to dim Awhile the visible countenance of Him; But 'twill be there—the likeness—to the last.
Some day the lucid waters, in which lie Pictured those glorious lineaments, will be Stirred up and troubled like a stormy sea;— But they will yet re-settle—by-and-by.
They will re-settle when the soul is still'd, Its passions, its wild longings, and its pain; The pure reflection will shine out again When earth's hopes are relinquish'd, unfulfill'd.
They will re-settle in those after-years When life's hard lessons have been conned and learn'd; When this child's beauty will have all return'd, More lovely for the trouble and the tears.
They will re-settle in the calm of death, When the sweet eyes are laid asleep, and when The heart is hush'd. Truly God's likeness then— The mirror clear, unsullied by a breath.
Ah! while I look, and trace each tender line, I think most of the day when I shall see The dear face in that perfect purity, Its mortal features clothed with the divine.
This self-same face, but with the image bright, Nevermore undefined, and faint, and dim; This self-same face, yet like the face of Him, In glory and in beauty infinite.