Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEATH OF STEPHEN, by JANET HAMILTON Poet's Biography First Line: O power invincible of faith and love Last Line: Thus, martyr'd stephen, thus wert thou avenged. Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson Subject(s): Christianity; God; Martyrs; Religion; Stephen, Saint (d. 36 A.d.); Theology | ||||||||
O POWER invincible of faith and love, Like angel rising to his home above, Thy heaven-lit features beam, calm, earnest grace, Firm truth, and holy zeal illume thy face! 'Neath your stern gaze he quails not, men of doom: From Israel's history back he rolls the gloom Of ages, draws in characters of flame Her lineage, bondage, liberty, and shame. Methinks I see thee with thine eyes upturned Those eyes where all the saint and martyr burned To Him most high, whose temple is all space, Nor human minds can bound His dwelling-place To Him who fills by right th' eternal throne, And for His footstool claims the earth alone Creator, God, by whose all-forming hand All things were made in ocean, air, and land. Thus Stephen spake: "O ye uncircumcised in ears and heart! Who tread your fathers' footsteps, act their part; A stiff, unbending, blind, rebellious race, Who grieve the Spirit, and resist His grace! Which of the prophets have ye not withstood? Have ye not prison'd, tortur'd, shed their blood, Who showed the coming of that holiest one Messiah, Jesus, God's eternal Son? Of whom betrayers, murderers, ye have been! O bloody race of hands and hearts unclean! From God Himself the law to you was given By hands of angels, ministers from heaven How have ye kept it? Page inspired proclaim True record of your folly, guilt, and shame!" As lion crouching in the traveller's path Lashes his tawny sides in savage wrath Watches with glaring eyes his victim near, Then springs with foaming jaws his prey to tear They gnash their teeth; they rush upon him, wild With vengeful hatehe, heavenward gazing, smiled. Full of the Holy Ghost, to him 'twas given To see unfold the pearly gates of heaven Behold the glory of the highest One, And see on His right hand th' incarnate Son! With furious cries they stop their ears; they run With one accord upon him. Now begun The work of death; for, lo! they drag, they cast Him forth the city gates; and thick and fast They ply the murderous missiles. Bruised to death, But calling still on God with fainting breath "Receive my spirit, Jesus, Lord," he sighed; Then kneeling down, aloud to God he cried "Lord, lay not to their charge this sin; forgive, Even for His sake who died that they might live." O words! O scene! might "make even angels weep!" He said, then calm in Jesus fell asleep. But who is he around whose feet are piled The murderers' garments? he hath not defil'd His hands with martyr's blood; yet mark his eye, Where flash the fires of genius, even his high And intellectual brow, on which enshrined Sit learning, eloquence, and powerful mind, Give token all this murderous deed received His full consent. He hath not yet believed, Jesus of Nazareth, in Thy name; but mad With persecuting zeal he seeks to add A thousand martyrs, breathing slaughter still; Makes havoc of the Church, the prisons fill; The Christians scatter, who, dispersed abroad, Proclaim in every place the Word of God. But soon, O Saul! from yon refulgent skies A blinding glory shall eclipse thine eyes, And bathe in living light thy new-born soul; And thou shalt run the race, and gain the goal Of Christian martyr, preaching first the faith Which once thou persecutedst to the death. Thy name, thy nature, and thy mission changed, Thus, martyr'd Stephen, thus wert thou avenged. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY A BALLAD FOUNDED ON A REAL INCIDENT WHICH OCCURED IN HIGH LIFE by JANET HAMILTON |
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