Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE SLEEP IN GETHSEMANE by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH

First Line: INTO THE DARK CHRIST TURNED AWAY
Last Line: O LORD, PITY US!
Subject(s): JESUS CHRIST;

Into the dark Christ turned away.
He spoke to the Three and bade them stay.
"Sit ye and watch while I go pray."
O Lord, pity us!
Peter dreamed of a barley cake.
It up and talked when he fain would break.
He laughed in his sleep till his sides 'gan ache!
O Lord, pity us!
James had a dream that his brothers' ass
Fell down dead where the pilgrims pass.
He heaved in his sleep and cried "alas."
O Lord, pity us!
"Nay," quoth John, "but I'll take no rest!
He thought that he lay on the Lord Christ's breast,
But it turned to a maid's, that he loved the best!
O Lord, pity us!
Jesus looked upon their shame
When bleeding out of the dusk he came.
Three times over they did the same.
O Lord, pity us!




Home: PoetryExplorer.net