Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHRIST CROWNED WITH THORNS, by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHRIST CROWNED WITH THORNS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Too little do we think of thee
Last Line: From past and guilty years.
Alternate Author Name(s): L. E. L.; Maclean, Letitia
Subject(s): Jesus Christ


"BEHOLD THE MAN."

"A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief."

Too little do we think of thee,
Our too indulgent Lord:
We ask not what thy will may be,
We dwell not on thy word.

Thou, who in human shape wast born,
And shared in human wo;
Thou, who didst wear the crown of thorn,
Which all must wear below;

Thou, who the sinners' fate didst share,
Yet from the grave arise --
Alas! unworthy that we are
Of such a sacrifice.

Thy love should fill our hearts, like dew
That fills the flowers by night;
Who, in that gentle rain renew
The waste of morning's light.

Thus doth life's hurry and its glare
Dry up within our heart
The holier thoughts that are thy share,
The spirit's better part.

And yet we turn not to thy love,
We seek not to recall
The hopes that lift our souls above
Their low and earthly thrall.

On pleasures or on wealth intent,
Careless we hurry on,
And vainly precious hours are spent
Before we think them gone.

Their joy and sorrow, sin and strife,
Close round us like a bond,
Which so enslaves to present life,
We never look beyond.

O Lord, if every thought were thine,
How little would they be
Acceptable before thy shrine,
Unworthy heaven and thee.

Yet thou hast said, thou wilt accept
Prayers offer'd in thy name;
That never tears in vain were wept,
If from the heart they came.

Then strike our rocky souls, O Lord,
Amid life's desert place;
Yet may their harden'd depths afford
The waters of thy grace.

Low in the dust we kneel and pray,
O! sanctify our tears:
Till they wash every stain away
From past and guilty years.





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