Classic and Contemporary Poetry
I FOLLOWED THEE, MY GOD, I FOLLOWED THEE, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography Last Line: Me also bear thy cross Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina Subject(s): Jesus Christ - Suffering & Sacrifice; Crucifixion; Worship | ||||||||
I FOLLOWED Thee, my God, I followed Thee To see the end: I turned back flying from Gethsemane, Turned back on flying steps to see Thy Face, my God, my Friend. Even fleeing from Thee my heart clave to Thee: I turned perforce Constrained, yea chained by love which maketh free; I turned perforce, and silently Followed along Thy course. Lord, didst Thou know that I was following Thee? I weak and small Yet Thy true lover, mean tho' I must be, Sinning and sorrowing ''" didst Thou see? O Lord, Thou sawest all. I thought I had been strong to die for Thee; I disbelieved Thy word of warning spoken patiently: My heart cried, "That be far from me," Till Thy bruised heart I grieved. Once I had urged: "Lord, this be far from Thee": ''" Rebel to Hght, It needed first that Thou shouldst die for me Or ever I could plumb and see Love's lovely depth and height. Alas that I should trust myself, not Thee; Not trust Thy word: I faithless slumberer in Gethsemane, Blinded and rash; who instantly Put trust, but in a sword. Ah Lord, if even at the last in Thee I had put faith, I might even at the last have counselled me. And not have heaped up cruelty To sting Thee in Thy death. Alas for me, who bore to think on Thee And yet to he! While Thou, O Lord, didst bear to look on me Goaded by fear to blasphemy. And break my heart and die. No balm I find in Gilead, yet in Thee Nailed to Thy palm I find a balm that wrings and comforts me: Balm wrung from Thee by agony, My balm, mine only balm. Oh blessed John who standeth close to Thee, With Magdalene, And Thine own Mother praying silently, Yea, blessed above women she. Now blessed even as then. And blessed the scorned thief who hangs by Thee, Whose thirsting mouth Thirsts for Thee more than water, whose eyes see. Whose lips confess in ecstasy Nor feel their parching drouth. Like as the hart the water-brooks I Thee Desire, my hands I stretch to Thee; O kind Lord, pity me: Lord, I have wept, wept bitterly, I driest of dry lands. Lord, I am standing far far off from Thee; Yet is my heart Hanging with Thee upon the accursed tree; The nails, the thorns, pierce Thee and me: My God, I claim my part ''" Scarce in Thy throne and kingdom; yet with Thee In shame, in loss, In Thy forsaking, in Thine agony: Love crucified, behold even me, Me also bear Thy cross. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COMPANIONSHIP by MALTBIE DAVENPORT BABCOCK FOR I WILL CONSIDER YOUR DOG MOLLY by DAVID LEHMAN RUSSIAN CATHEDRAL by CLAUDE MCKAY LITTLE WHITE CHURCH by MARILYN NELSON A STEEPLE ON THE HOUSE by ROBERT FROST MATE (1) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ANSWER TO PRAYER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS by GEORGE SANTAYANA IT IS FINISHED' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI ITALIA, IO TI SALUTO!' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE HEART KNOWETH ITS OWN BITTERNESS' (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |
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