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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


JESUS OF THE SCARS by EDWARD SHILLITO

First Line: IF WE NEVER SOUGHT, WE SEEK THEE NOW
Last Line: AND NOT A GOD HAS WOUNDS, BUT THOU ALONE.
Subject(s): JESUS CHRIST = SUFFERING & SACRIFICE;

If we never sought, we seek thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
We must have sight of thorn-pricks on thy brow,
We must have thee, O Jesus of the Scars.

The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by thy Scars we claim thy grace.

If when the doors are shut, thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of thine;
We know today what wounds are, have no fear,
Show us thy Scars, we know the countersign.

The other gods were strong; but thou wast weak;
They rode, but thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds God's wounds alone can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but thou alone.



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