HERE, as the vesper chant Sinks to its close, While not a murmur Breaks the repose, In silence I ponder, Musing alone, The Church's deep mystery, Sculptured in stone. In the solemn cathedral, Now as of old, The Passion of Calvary Still we behold. The Cross and the Crucified, Yes, it is He, The suffering Saviour, Nailed to the tree! As the choir from the transept Bends to the West, So His head in the agony Drooped on His breast. In the stains of the windows, Purple and red, Streams the blood which for sinners Freely was shed. Each stone is a symbol, Graven and scarred; So with keenest anguish His form was marred. Yet in all shapes of beauty Wondrously wrought, So the shame and the agony Our healing brought! Yonder a penitent, Burdened within, Kneels on the altar steps, Sighing for sin. So the dying thief prayed, By His pierced side; "In Thy kingdom remember me," Fainting, he cried. The crypt lies beneath us; There, in the gloom, Sleeps the buried Redeemer, In Joseph's tomb. The spire springs toward heaven, Where angels sing; It is Jesus ascending, Victor and King! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 4. REVEILLE by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN LOVE'S PHILOSOPHY by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THE EVE OF BANNOCKBURN by JOHN BARBOUR THE VILLAGE WELL by ALEXANDER BROWN THE BRIDE OF ABYDOS by GEORGE GORDON BYRON THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN by GEORGE CANNING SONGS OF THE SEA CHILDREN: 69 by BLISS CARMAN |