MARK you the painting? To this ancient hall, Where we, the brothers of Saint Dominic, tread With reverent step, and break our daily bread, I came a novice, and can yet recall How Christ and his Apostles on the wall, Who break bread also, only seemed, instead, As shadowy presences, although they shed Perpetual benediction on us all. But now, beholding how we come and go, And are forgotten, while, year after year, The ever-blessed Master and that row Of silent faces, with no change to fear, Remain as first I saw them, well I know 'T is we, not they, who are the shadows here. |