Classic Poem

The world is very foul and dark,
And sin has marred its outline fair;
But we are taught to look above,
And see another image there:
And I will raise mine eyes above,
Above a world of sin and woe,
Where sinless, griefless, near her Son,
Sits Mary on a throne of snow.

Mankind seems very foul and dark
In some lights that we see them in;
Lo, as the tide of life goes by,
How many thousands live in sin:
But I will raise mine eyes above,
Above the world's unthinking flow,
To where so human, yet so fair,
Sits Mary on her throne of snow.

My heart is very foul and dark;
Yes, strangely foul sometimes to me
Glare up the images of sin,
My tempter loves to make me see:
Then may I lift mine eyes above,
Above these passions vile and low
To where, in pleading contrast bright,
Sits Mary on her throne of snow.

And oft that throne, so near our Lord's,
To earth some of its radiance lends;

And Christians learn from her to shun
The path impure, that hell-ward tends:
For they have learnt to look above,
Above the prizes here below,
To where, crowned with a starry crown,
Sits Mary on her throne of snow.

Blest be the whiteness of her throne
That shines so purely, grandly there,
With such a passing glory bright,
Where all is bright and all is fair:
God, make me lift mine eyes above,
And love its holy radiance so,
That, some day, I may come where still
Sits Mary on her throne of snow.