Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE VISION OF ST. PETER, by JOHN MILTON HAY Poet's Biography First Line: To peter by night the faithfullest came Last Line: To the stout apostle came. Subject(s): Peter, Saint (c. 64 A.d.) | ||||||||
TO Peter by night the faithfullest came And said, "We appeal to thee! The life of the Church is in thy life; We pray thee to rise and flee. "For the tyrant's hand is red with blood, And his arm is heavy with power; Thy head, the head of the Church, will fall, If thou tarry in Rome an hour." Through the sleeping town St. Peter passed To the wide Campagna plain; In the starry light of the Alban night He drew free breath again: When across his path an awful form In luminous glory stood; His thorn-crowned brow, His hands and feet, Were wet with immortal blood. The godlike sorrow which filled His eyes Seemed changed to a godlike wrath, As they turned on Peter, who cried aloud, And sank to his knees in the path. "Lord of my life, my love, my soul! Say, what wilt Thou with me?" A voice replied, "I go to Rome To be crucified for thee." The apostle sprang, all flushed, to his feet, -- The vision had passed away; The light still lay on the dewy plain, But the sky in the east was gray. To the city walls St. Peter turned, And his heart in his breast grew fire; In every vein the hot blood burned With the strength of one high desire. And sturdily back he marched to his death Of terrible pain and shame; And never a shade of fear again To the stout apostle came. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MEANING OF THE LOOK by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE LOOK by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING I SHALL KNOW WHY, WHEN TIME IS OVER by EMILY DICKINSON PETER AND JOHN by ELINOR WYLIE ROADSIDE POEMS: SAINT PETER by GEORGE MACDONALD THE TRAITOR by JOHN COWPER POWYS THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. PETER by AGNES MARY F. ROBINSON |
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