Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CALVARY, by JOHN ROTHSCHILD



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CALVARY, by                    
First Line: Acres of crosses - wooden crosses - bleak
Last Line: Of folded arms in the menacing hour?
Subject(s): Calvary; Crosses; Crucifixion; Death; Social Protest; Soldiers; War; Jesus Christ - Crucifixion; Dead, The


An invisible chorus chants in the winter heavens.

Acres of crosses—wooden crosses—bleak
as bones—and gray as sorrow.

And some of them were crucified
In soul and body, and doubly died.
They who came dragging the cross of Hate.
They who came cursing to their Fate.

Who taught them to hate, who sent them to die?
'Twas you, ye women now shrunken with weeping!
'Twas you, ye men now broken and hoary,
who waved a flag and talked of glory!
When they went marching quick and bright,
When they went tramping off to fight—
and to kill
and to die.

And did you fear, ye stern-eyed men,
ye women knitting swollen-lidded?
Fear for the Spirit, and think that Force
Would save the world from some great loss?
Why did ye wager sin with sin?
Could ye not trust the spirit to win?

Acres of crosses—little crosses—row
on row—and gray as sorrow.

When will you learn, ye folk of folly, how
wrath is weak, how patience is strong?
When will you learn the terrible power
of folded arms in the menacing hour?





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