Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE TOILING OF FELIX: 1. PRELUDE, by HENRY VAN DYKE Poet's Biography First Line: Hear a word that jesus spake Last Line: "raise the stone, and thou shalt find me; cleave the wood and there am I." Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus Variant Title(s): A Lost Word On Jesus Subject(s): Jesus Christ; Religion; Theology | ||||||||
HEAR a word that Jesus spake Eighteen hundred years ago, Where the crimson lilies blow Round the blue Tiberian lake: There the bread of life He brake, Through the fields of harvest walking With His lowly comrades, talking Of the secret thoughts that feed Weary souls in time of need. Art thou hungry? Come and take; Hear the word that Jesus spake! 'Tis the sacrament of labour, bread and wine divinely blest; Friendship's food and sweet refreshment, strength and courage, joy and rest. But this word the Master said Long ago and far away, Silent and forgotten lay Buried with the silent dead, Where the sands of Egypt spread Sea-like, tawny billows heaping Over ancient cities sleeping, While the River Nile between Rolled its summer flood of green Rolled its autumn flood of red: There the word the Master said, Written on a frail papyrus, wrinkled, scorched by fire, and torn Hidden in God's hand was waiting for its resurrection morn Now at last the buried word By the delving spade is found, Sleeping in the quiet ground. Now the call of life is heard: Rise again, and like a bird, Fly abroad on wings of gladness Through the darkness and the sadness, Of the toiling age, and sing Sweeter than the voice of Spring, Till the hearts of men are stirred By the music of the word, -- Gospel for the heavy-laden, answer to the labourer's cry: "Raise the stone, and thou shalt find me; cleave the wood and there am I." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY LITTLE BOATIE'; A SLUMBER SONG FOR THE FISHERMAN'S CHILD by HENRY VAN DYKE |
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