Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, KINSMAN! - CANST THOU FORGET?, by WILLIAM ARTHUR DUNKERLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

KINSMAN! - CANST THOU FORGET?, by                    
First Line: I love to think upon thy human need
Last Line: Feel thee my brother, father, mother, -- god.
Alternate Author Name(s): Oxenham, John
Subject(s): Religion; Theology


I love to think upon Thy human need,
Thy baby fingers groping for the breast,
Thy white limbs on Thy mother's knee astrid,
Thy soft head croodling down into its nest.

I love to think upon those hidden years,
When just a boy Thou wast, with other boys, --
Sharing their hopes, their ventures, and their fears,
And jubilant with them in all their joys.

I love to think on Thy humanity,
Seeking God's Way, with ever-opening eyes,
Through the thronged courts of earthly vanity,
To that last crowning grace of sacrifice.

I love to think upon Thy dust-stained feet,
That ached and hardened with the stony road,
And craved relief from parch of noonday heat
In each cool stream that by the wayside flowed.

I love to think upon Thy needfulness,
That made the sinner's kiss upon Thy feet
Balm for old Simon's lack of heedfulness,
And to Thy want a joy most exquisite.

I love to think upon Thy human-ness
That welcomed sundown and the close of day,
Which left Thee free, for just a little space,
To climb the hill, and sit, and think, and pray.

I love Thy craving for sweet loneliness,
When the strain grew past human strength to bear,
I love Thy gracious calm amid the stress,
Yea -- and the anguish of Thy last despair.

Though Thou was God, yet truly wast Thou man, --
Man like myself, since Thou life's round hast trod;
So, by Thy human sufferings, I can
Claim Thee as Brother yet acclaim Thee God.

Forget, Thou canst not. -- God Thou art and man.
Thou too hast borne the yoke and kissed the rod.
By that, O Kinsman, to the full I can
Feel Thee my Brother, Father, Mother, -- God.





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