Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FOR THE HOLY FAMILY, BY MICHELANGELO (IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY), by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FOR THE HOLY FAMILY, BY MICHELANGELO (IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Turn not to the prophet's page, o son! He knew
Last Line: The seed o' the woman bruise the serpent's head.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rossetti, Gabriel Charles Dante
Subject(s): Catholics; Jesus Christ - Childhood & Youth; Mary. Mother Of Jesus; Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564); Women In The Bible; Roman Catholics; Catholicism; Virgin Mary


(In the National Gallery)

TURN not the prophet's page, O Son! He knew
All that thou hast to suffer, and hath writ.
Not yet thine hour of knowledge. Infinite
The sorrows that thy manhood's lot must rue
And dire acquaintance of thy grief. That clue
The spirits of thy mournful ministerings
Seek through yon scroll in silence. For these things
The angels have desired to look into.

Still before Eden waves the fiery sword,--
Her Tree of Life unransomed: whose sad Tree
Of Knowledge yet to growth of Calvary
Must yield its Tempter,--Hell the earliest dead
Of Earth resign,--and yet, O Son and Lord,
The Seed o' the woman bruise the serpent's head.





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