ACROSS the sea, along the shore, In numbers more and ever more, From lonely hut and busy town, The valley through, the mountain down, What was it ye went out to see, Ye silly folk of Galilee? The reed that in the wind doth shake? The weed that washes in the lake? The reeds that waver, the weeds that float? -- A young man preaching in a boat. What was it ye went out to hear By sea and land, from far and near? A teacher? Rather seek the feet Of those who sit in Moses' seat. Go humbly seek, and bow to them, Far off in great Jerusalem. From them that in her courts ye saw, Her perfect doctors of the law, What is it came ye here to note? -- A young man preaching in a boat. A prophet! Boys and women weak! Declare, or cease to rave; Whence is it he hath learned to speak? Say, who his doctrine gave? A prophet? Prophet wherefore he Of all in Israel tribes? -- @3He teacheth with authority, And not as do the Scribes.@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HAMPTON BEACH by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER THE WHITE WATCH (OPUS JUVENIS) by GORDON BOTTOMLEY TOWERING OVER THE WRECKS OF TIME by JOHN BOWRING A PRAYER IN THE PROSPECT OF DEATH by ROBERT BURNS |