Life Sculpture
George Washington Doane
Embedded Files
Background
Background
George Washington Doane was an American churchman, educator, and the second bishop in the Episcopal Church for the Diocese of New Jersey. He graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1818. Doane was born in Trenton, New Jersey on May 27, 1799 and died in Burlington, New Jersey on April 27, 1859.
Poem and Annotations
Poem and Annotations
Chisel in hand stood a sculptor boyWith his marble block before him,And his eyes lit up with a smile of joy,As an angel-dream passed o’er him.
He carved the dream on that shapeless stone,With many a sharp incision;With heaven’s own flight the sculpture shone,—He’d caught that angel-vision.
Children of life are we, as we standWith our lives uncarved before us,Waiting the hour when, at God’s command,Our life-dream shall pass o’er us.
If we carve it then on the yielding stone,With many a sharp incision,Its heavenly beauty shall be our own,—Our lives, that angel-vision.
He carved the dream on that shapeless stone,With many a sharp incision;With heaven’s own flight the sculpture shone,—He’d caught that angel-vision.
Children of life are we, as we standWith our lives uncarved before us,Waiting the hour when, at God’s command,Our life-dream shall pass o’er us.
If we carve it then on the yielding stone,With many a sharp incision,Its heavenly beauty shall be our own,—Our lives, that angel-vision.
Analysis
Analysis
"Life Sculpture" is a poem about waiting and listening for God's voice in order to live a fulfilling life. In the poem, Doane describes an "angel-vision" that passes over the sculptor boy. This vision is God's plan for his life. When wanting to get life started, many will jump ahead and start chiseling away at their marble block without guidance. This will lead them into problems and struggles throughout their life because they tried to sculpt their life in their own power. Patience is key to success in life. One must not rush, but rather take their time and accept guidance from the expert. It is much easier to wait eagerly with wonder when one changes their perspective to be more like a child. The tone of this poem is spiritual and innocent.
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