Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MAUNDY THURSDAY, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI


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MAUNDY THURSDAY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The great vine left its glory to reign as forest king
Last Line: I a king, and thou a king, and this king to be our king.
Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina
Subject(s): Holidays; Holy Week; Maundy Thursday


THE great Vine left its glory to reign as Forest King.
'Nay,' quoth the lofty forest trees, 'we will not have this thing;
We will not have this supple one enring us with its ring.
Lo from immemorial time our might towers shadowing:
Not we were born to curve and droop, not we to climb and cling:
We buffet back the buffeting wind, tough to its buffeting:
We screen great beasts, the wild fowl build in our heads and sing,
Every bird of every feather from off our tops takes wing:
I a king, and thou a king, and what king shall be our king?'

Nevertheless the great Vine stooped to be the Forest King,
While the forest swayed and murmured like seas that are tempesting:
Stooped and drooped with thousand tendrils in thirsty languishing;
Bowed to earth and lay on earth for earth's replenishing;
Put off sweetness, tasted bitterness, endured time's fashioning;
Put off life and put on death: -- and lo it was all to bring
All its fellows down to a death which hath lost the sting,
All its fellows up to a life in endless triumphing, --
I a king, and thou a king, and this King to be our King.





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