Charles Sorley
From morn to midnight, all day through,
I laugh and play as others do,
I sin and chatter, just the same
As others with a different name.
And all year long upon the stage
I dance and tumble and do rage
So vehemently, I scarcely see
The inner and eternal me.
I have a temple I do not
Visit, a heart I have forgot,
A self that I have never met,
A secret shrine–and yet, and yet
This sanctuary of my soul
Unwitting I keep white and whole
Unlatched and lit, if Thou should’st care
To enter or to tarry there.
With parted lips and outstretched hands
And listening ears Thy servant stands,
Call Thou early, call Thou late,
To Thy great service dedicate.
_May 1915_
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem reflects the tension between the outward, performance-driven life and the neglected inner self. The speaker presents a persona that actively participates in the world—laughing, playing, sinning, chatting, dancing, and raging. These outward actions are described with vigor, as if they are meant to obscure or distract from the deeper, quieter aspects of the self that remain unattended. There’s a sense of the speaker’s life being a constant act, where the performance is so intense that it overshadows any introspection or self-awareness.
The reference to the “temple” and “heart” that the speaker does not visit suggests an awareness of an inner sanctum, a place of spiritual depth or reflection, but one that is forgotten or neglected. It is here that the speaker seems to acknowledge the existence of an inner self, untouched by the chaos of daily life. The use of words like “secret shrine” and “sanctuary” evokes a sacred space within the self, untouched and pure despite being ignored. The speaker seems to long for a return to this deeper self, a self that remains whole and unspoiled despite the neglect it has suffered.
The lines, “If Thou should’st care / To enter or to tarry there,” bring in a spiritual dimension, suggesting that the speaker is reaching out to a higher power, seeking guidance, or a return to a deeper connection with something transcendent. This invitation is open, almost yearning, though there is a sense of resignation in the speaker’s tone. They offer their “sanctuary” freely, hoping that if the divine or transcendent force does choose to enter, it will find a space ready and waiting for it, even if that space has been long forgotten by the speaker.
The final stanza reflects the speaker’s willingness, even in their distracted state, to serve a higher purpose. Their “parted lips” and “outstretched hands” suggest a posture of both readiness and longing, eager for the call to a more meaningful existence, even as they remain caught in the performance of daily life. The phrase “To Thy great service dedicate” adds a final note of humility and submission, underscoring the speaker’s ultimate desire for spiritual connection, despite the distractions of the world around them.
Written in 1915, the poem may reflect a response to the turmoil and uncertainty of the time, as the speaker wrestles with a fragmented sense of self amidst the chaos of life. It evokes a sense of internal struggle—caught between worldly distractions and a desire for deeper, more purposeful connection. The invitation to the divine to enter the sanctuary of the soul expresses both an awareness of spiritual neglect and a hopeful longing for redemption or return to an authentic self.