Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE FOUR GOSPELS, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FOUR GOSPELS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Matthew, the gospel of the publican!
Last Line: Ah, john, the gospel of the soul of christ!
Subject(s): Bible, N.t. Gospels


Matthew, the Gospel of the Publican! --
The man that made his notes, and kept accounts,
And balanced proofs of ancient prophecy;
The officer of cold, rapacious Rome
That found a better kingdom and its laws,
And heard its charter published on the Mount
Or by the sea or in the city streets,
And wrote it down in orderly array, --
Matthew, the Gospel of the Mouth of Christ!

And Mark, the eager Gospel of the Youth! --
Fresh from old Peter's ready, salty lips,
And leaping lightly through a rapid course;
The startled record of the miracles,
Of opened eyes, and dead restored to life,
And ears unstopped, and water walked upon,
And lepers cleansed, and cripples made to run,
And frantic maniacs calmed to sanity, --
Swift Mark, the Gospel of the Hand of Christ!

Luke, the Physician's Gospel! -- comforting,
Gracious, and tender; laying gentle touch
Upon the festering anguish of the world,
Our poverty and misery and sin,
It binds the gaping wounds of wretched men,
Pouring in oil and wine; its ministries
Halt at no bounds of nation or of race,
But offer healing to a world diseased, --
Kind Luke, the Gospel of the Heart of Christ!

And John, the Gospel of the Best Beloved! --
Of him who leaned upon the breast of Christ,
And heard His whisperings and knew His thoughts;
The Gospel of the Vision, piercing far
To time's beginning with the Son of God,
And deep into the blackness of the world,
And high into the mysteries of heaven,
And finding everywhere the Father's love, --
Ah, John, the Gospel of the Soul of Christ!





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