Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE ASPEN; A LEGEND OF PALESTINE by AMELIA WOODWARD TRUESDELL

First Line: O ASPEN, WHY SHIVER THUS IN AFFRIGHT?
Last Line: O BROTHER, SPEAK NEVER LIGHTLY OF ME.
Subject(s): CAVALRY; PALESTINE;

O Aspen, why shiver thus in affright?
Have your leaves from eternal penance no rest?
Did you bide so long on some eerie quest
That a terrified, uninvited guest
On earth you seem?
Does memory dream
Of the houris whose eyes were jewels of light?
Do you tremble in fear or in hidden delight?
O Aspen, why shiver thus in affright?

O mortal, speak never lightly of me;
I stood on Calvary's hillside when
@3He@1 was pierced in the side by the Roman men,
And the high priests scoffed beneath. Since then
That cruel jeer
Forever I hear;
Forever His crimson blood I see;
Forever no peace to my heart can be;
O brother, speak never lightly of me.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net