Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IN THE WILDERNESS, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IN THE WILDERNESS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Christ of his gentleness
Last Line: Tears like a lover wept.
Subject(s): Bible; Jesus Christ; Religion; Theology


CHRIST of His gentleness
Thirsting and hungering,
Walked in the wilderness;
Soft words of grace He spoke
Unto lost desert-folk
That listened wondering.
He heard the bitterns call
From ruined palace-wall,
Answered them brotherly.
He held communion
With the she-pelican
Of lonely piety.
Basilisk, cockatrice,
Flocked to his homilies,
With mail of dread device,
With monstrous barbed slings,
With eager dragon-eyes;
Great rats on leather wings
And poor blind broken things,
Foul in their miseries.
And ever with Him went,
Of all His wanderings
Comrade, with ragged coat,
Gaunt ribs -- poor innocent --
Bleeding foot, burning throat,
The guileless old scapegoat;
For forty nights and days
Followed in Jesus' ways,
Sure guard behind Him kept,
Tears like a lover wept.






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