idney Lanier is a Southern writer of the 19th century. His poems are naturalistic and lyrical. Here are excerpts from several of his most well-loved verses.

from The Marshes of Glynn

As the marsh hen secretly builds on the watery sod,
Behold I will build me a nest on the greatness of God:
I will fly in the greatness of God as the marsh hen flies
In the freedom that fills all the space
	'twixt the marsh and the skies:
By so many roots as the marsh grass sends in the sod
I will heartily lay me a-hold on the
	greatness of God:
Oh, like to the greatness of God is the
	greatness within
The range of the marshes, the liberal
	marshes of Glynn.
.......................................

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from Song of the Chattahoochee

Out of the hills of Habersham,
Down the valleys of Hall.

.......................................



Downward the voices of Duty call--
Downward, to toil and be mixed with
	the main.
The dry fields burn, and the mills are to
	turn.

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A Ballad of Trees and the Master

(This poem became the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns, "Into the Woods".)

Into the woods my Master went,
Clean forspent, forspent,
Into the woods my Master came,
Forspent with love and shame.
But the olives they were not blind to Him.
The little grey leaves were kind to Him,
The thorn tree had a mind to Him,
When into the woods He came.

Out of the woods my Master came
And he was well content;
Out of the woods my Master came,
Content with death and shame.
When death and shame would woo Him last,
From under the trees they drew Him last,
'Twas on a tree they slew Him last
When out of the woods He came.