The Anniversaries Poems in Commemoration of Great Men and Great Events. By Thomas H. Gill |
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Palm Sunday.
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Palm Sunday.
“A very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others
cut down branches from the trees and strewed them in the way.”—
St. Matthew, xxi. 8.
“Lo a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations
and kindreds and peoples and tongues, stood before the throne and
before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.”
—
Revelation, vii. 9.
Once only would the Lord of Glory take
The majesty of conquerors and kings:
Once only would the Heavenly Lover make
A moment's stay with Earth's delightful things:
For Him once only might her beauty shine,
Who lent the Vale of Tears this smile divine.
The majesty of conquerors and kings:
Once only would the Heavenly Lover make
A moment's stay with Earth's delightful things:
For Him once only might her beauty shine,
Who lent the Vale of Tears this smile divine.
O Monarch proudly into Salem led!
O boundless rapture of the obsequious throng!
O Spring! thy sweetness on the day was shed,
Thy music mingled with the city's song:
O stately Palms! ye lent the Lord your fairness,
And made His pathway green, all glorious in your bareness!
O boundless rapture of the obsequious throng!
O Spring! thy sweetness on the day was shed,
Thy music mingled with the city's song:
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And made His pathway green, all glorious in your bareness!
Lord! in thy heavenly Salem, what a flame
Of true love burneth, mighty, evermore!
O shining Host, that never leaves the Lamb!
O sweet Hosannas, that unceasing soar!
Thine own White-Robëd strew Thy pathway glorious,
And fadeless palms ne'er drop from hands victorious.
Of true love burneth, mighty, evermore!
O shining Host, that never leaves the Lamb!
O sweet Hosannas, that unceasing soar!
Thine own White-Robëd strew Thy pathway glorious,
And fadeless palms ne'er drop from hands victorious.
O sweet obedience of the Heavenly Beauty,
That always shines, that only beams for Thec!
O endless Spring-time with enamoured duty,
Offering her realms of bloom and fragrancy!
How sweetly those palm-bearing ranks adore!
How humbly shines each White-Robed conqueror!
That always shines, that only beams for Thec!
O endless Spring-time with enamoured duty,
Offering her realms of bloom and fragrancy!
How sweetly those palm-bearing ranks adore!
How humbly shines each White-Robed conqueror!
Lord! when Earth's loveliness our rapture greets,
When we delight in splendour of the Spring,
Yes, gladsome gather here these “fading sweets,”
O take them for a holy offering!
Teach us this splendour 'neath Thy feet to lay,
And bring our beauty to adorn Thy way!
When we delight in splendour of the Spring,
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O take them for a holy offering!
Teach us this splendour 'neath Thy feet to lay,
And bring our beauty to adorn Thy way!
Lord! in our beauty we would shine for Thee;
But oh! more sweetly than false Salem shone:
Touch our poor splendour with the radiancy
Of the White-Robëd Host before Thy throne,
And grant the “fading sweets” we humbly bring
The glory of the palms unwithering.
But oh! more sweetly than false Salem shone:
Touch our poor splendour with the radiancy
Of the White-Robëd Host before Thy throne,
And grant the “fading sweets” we humbly bring
The glory of the palms unwithering.
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