Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE EVERLASTING ARMS, by ARTHUR GLYN PRYS-JONES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE EVERLASTING ARMS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The tides of death go swiftly home
Last Line: Transfigured in his gaze.
Subject(s): Death; Wales; World War I; Dead, The; Welshmen; Welshwomen; First World War


I

THE tides of Death go swiftly home
And the nets of Pain are spread,
The blood runs warm on the cold, cold loam
In desolate fields of dead.

The shadows fall, and the great guns call,
But there with silent tread
His footsteps go through the lanes of woe—
White Lord of the Thorn-crowned Head.

II

From out of the peace of God's abode
He comes when brave men fail,
With limbs that know of an ancient load—
The Cross and the denting nail.

His eyes are bright as an altar-light
In the calm of an alter-rail,
And the stricken sing to see Him bring
His gift of the Holy Grail.

III

And some men wake on their comrade's breast,
And some men live to praise,
But some fare forth through the dark of the West
With the Christ of their childhood days

To stand full free in His chivalry,
To live in His love always,
And they proudly go, with their wounds aglow,
Transfigured in His gaze.





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