Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BROTHER HUBERT, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BROTHER HUBERT, by                    
First Line: Holy-thoughted brother hubert
Last Line: Hadst thou staid I must have fled
Subject(s): Charity;christmas; "philanthropy;nativity, The;


HOLY-THOUGHTED Brother Hubert,
In his cell one evening sat,
Painting angels in a missal
Which he long had labored at;

Till the ringers in the belfry
Chimed the hour of setting sun,
And he closed his precious volume,
Saying: "Now my work is done.

"Time flies fast when one paints angels;
I had not thought it was so late;
I must go and feed the poor folk
Waiting at the Convent gate."

Kneeling low, he prayed a moment,
Turning then to leave the room,
Started — for he saw a figure
Standing in a purple gloom.

Sharpest thorns his head surrounded,
Cruel cords his thin wrists bound,
In his hands and feet were nail-prints,
In his side a spear-point wound;

And a purely glowing radiance
From his face was shed abroad;
By these signs the pious Hubert
Knew the vision was his Lord.

On his Master, glory stricken,
Long the Monk gazed silently,
Till the thought arose within him
"Ah! how blessèd I should be

"Could my eyes but dwell forever
On that dear, that glorious head;
But below the Convent children
Wait impatient to be fed."

Straightway where the poor folk waited
For their evening dole he went,
Since the monks, though worn by fasting,
For the needy kept no Lent.

And good Hubert every sunset,
(As the Convent book records),
At the gate stood giving freely
Bread and wine and loving words.

So this evening all the poor folk
Feasted to their hearts' content,
Till they left the gateway taking
Hubert's blessing as they went.

Swiftly then the good Monk hastened
Down the halls and through his door;
Lo! the vision still was waiting,
Only brighter than before.

And the Master, turning on him
Eyes of blessing, smiled and said:
"Feeding these ones thou hast fed me,
Hadst thou staid I must have fled."





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