HAIL, harbinger of Morn: Thou that art this day born, And heraldest the Word with clarion voice! Ye faithful ones, in him Behold the dawning dim Of the bright Day, and let your hearts rejoice. John; -- by that chosen name To call him, Gabriel came By God's appointment from his home on high: What deeds that babe should do To manhood when he grew, God sent His angel forth to testify. Yet in his mother's womb, To Him Who should illume With light the nations John his witness bore: And when he came to birth, John first proclaimed to earth That witness, and is glorious evermore. There hath none greater, none, Than Zachariah's son Ris'n among those that are of woman born; A prophet, he may claim More than a prophet's fame; Sublimer deeds than theirs his front adorn. Enough: can human speech Unto his glory reach, Meetly may mortals herald forth his praise, For whom, in time of old, God bade His seer unfold The mighty work ordained in after-days? "Lo, to prepare Thy way," Did God the Father say, "Before Thy face My messenger I send, Thy coming to forerun; As on the orient sun Doth the bright daystar morn by morn attend." Praise therefore God most High; Praise Him Who came to die For us, His Son That liveth evermore; And to the Spirit raise, The Comforter, like praise, While time endureth and when time is o'er. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN EPITAPH, INTENDED FOR HIMSELF by JAMES BEATTIE NURSE'S SONG, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE GUARDIAN ANGEL (A PICTURE AT FANO) by ROBERT BROWNING THE COASTERS by THOMAS FLEMING DAY VOICES OF THE NIGHT: PRELUDE by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE BURNING OF THE TEMPLE by ISAAC ROSENBERG |