Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ROADSIDE POEMS: ZACCHAEUS, by GEORGE MACDONALD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ROADSIDE POEMS: ZACCHAEUS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: To whom the heavy burden clings
Last Line: And saved the lost whom he had won.
Subject(s): Bible; Guests; Jesus Christ; Salvation; Truth; Zacchaeus; Visiting; Zaccheus


TO whom the heavy burden clings,
It yet may serve him like a staff;
One day the cross will break in wings,
The sinner laugh a holy laugh.

The dwarfed Zacchæus climbed a tree,
His humble stature set him high;
The Lord the little man did see
Who sought the great man passing by.

Up to the tree he came, and stopped:
"To-day," he said, "with thee I bide."
A spirit-shaken fruit he dropped,
Ripe for the Master, at his side.

Sure never host with gladder look
A welcome guest home with him bore!
Then rose the Satan of rebuke
And loudly spake beside the door:

"This is no place for holy feet;
Sinners should house and eat alone!
This man sits in the stranger's seat
And grinds the faces of his own!"

Outspoke the man, in Truth's own might:
"Lord, half my goods I give the poor;
If one I've taken more than right
With four I make atonement sure!"

"Salvation here is entered in;
This man indeed is Abraham's son!"
Said he who came the lost to win—
And saved the lost whom he had won.





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