 | Selections from the American poets |  |
When the great Master spoke
John H. Bryant.
“And I went and washed, and I received sight.”
—John ix., 11.
—John ix., 11.
When the great Master spoke,
He touch'd his wither'd eyes,
And at one gleam upon him broke
The glad earth and the skies.
He touch'd his wither'd eyes,
And at one gleam upon him broke
The glad earth and the skies.
And he saw the city's walls,
And kings' and prophets' tomb,
And mighty arches and vaulted halls,
And the temple's lofty dome.
And kings' and prophets' tomb,
And mighty arches and vaulted halls,
And the temple's lofty dome.
He look'd on the river's flood,
And the flash of mountain rills,
And the gentle wave of the palms that stood
Upon Judea's hills.
And the flash of mountain rills,
And the gentle wave of the palms that stood
Upon Judea's hills.
He saw on heights and plains
Creatures ef every race,
But a mighty thrill run through his veins
When he met the human face.
Creatures ef every race,
But a mighty thrill run through his veins
When he met the human face.
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And his virgin sight beheld
The ruddy glow of even,
And the thousand shining orbs that fill'd
The azure depths of heaven.
The ruddy glow of even,
And the thousand shining orbs that fill'd
The azure depths of heaven.
And woman's voice before
Had cheer'd his gloomy night,
But to see the angel form she wore
Made deeper the delight.
Had cheer'd his gloomy night,
But to see the angel form she wore
Made deeper the delight.
And his heart at daylight's close,
For the bright world where he trod,
And when the yellow morning rose,
Gave speechless thanks to God.
For the bright world where he trod,
And when the yellow morning rose,
Gave speechless thanks to God.
| Selections from the American poets | |