Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART, by ABRAM JOSEPH RYAN Poet's Biography First Line: Two lights on a lowly altar Last Line: In the palm of the priest's pure hand. Subject(s): Catholic Church - Liturgy | ||||||||
Two lights on a lowly altar; Two snowy cloths for a Feast; Two vases of dying roses; The morning comes from the east, With a gleam for the folds of the vestments And a grace for the face of the priest. The sound of a low, sweet whisper Floats over a little bread, And trembles around a chalice, And the priest bows down his head! O'er a sign of white on the altar -- In the cup -- o'er a sign of red. As red as the red of roses, As white as the white of snows! But the red is a red of a surface Beneath which a God's blood flows; And the white is the white of a sunlight Within which a God's flesh glows. Ah! words of the olden Thursday! Ye come from the far-away! Ye bring us the Friday's victim In His own love's olden way; In the hand of the priest at the altar His Heart finds a home each day. The sight of a Host uplifted! The silver-sound of a bell! The gleam of a golden chalice. Be glad, sad heart! 'tis well; He made, and He keeps love's promise, With thee all days to dwell. From his hand to his lips that tremble, From his lips to his heart a-thrill, Goes the little Host on its love-path, Still doing the Father's will; And over the rim of the chalice The blood flows forth to fill The heart of the man anointed With the waves of a wondrous grace; A silence falls on the altar -- An awe on each bended face -- For the Heart that bled on Calvary Still beats in the holy place. The priest comes down to the railing Where brows are bowed in prayer; In the tender clasp of his fingers A Host lies pure and fair, And the hearts of Christ and the Christian Meet there -- and only there! Oh! love that is deep and deathless! Oh! faith that is strong and grand! Oh! hope that will shine forever, O'er the wastes of a weary land! Christ's Heart finds an earthly heaven In the palm of the priest's pure hand. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EASTER; APRIL 1, 1888 by EMILY PAULINE JOHNSON FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF MARY IN THE TEMPLE by ABRAM JOSEPH RYAN ST. JUAN GUALBERTO by ROBERT SOUTHEY THE PIOUS PAINTER; THE STORY AS RELATED IN FABLIAUX OF LE GRAND by ROBERT SOUTHEY THE MATER PIA by AMELIA WOODWARD TRUESDELL 1470: THE FIRST BOOK PRINTED IN PARIS by COLE SWENSEN APRIL 1, 1411: THE BETROTHAL by COLE SWENSEN APRIL 25: DAY OF ST. MARK, PATRON OF VELLUM: MANUFACTURE AND.... by COLE SWENSEN APRIL 2: FEAST DAY OF FRANCIS OF PAOLA, PATRON .... by COLE SWENSEN SENTINEL SONGS: 1 by ABRAM JOSEPH RYAN |
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