Walked under the leaves
Binding the ends
Of the barley sheaves.
Peter and John
Lay down to sleep
Pillowed upon
A haymaker's heap.
John and Peter
Lay down to dream.
The air was sweeter
Than honey and cream.
Peter was bred
In the salty cold.
His hair was red
And his eyes were gold.
John had a mouth
Like a wing bent down.
His brow was smooth
And his eyes were brown.
Peter to slumber
Sank like a stone,
Of all their number
The bravest one.
John more slowly
Composed himself,
Young and holy
Among the twelve.
John as he slept
Cried out in grief,
Turned and wept
On the golden leaf:
"Peter, Peter,
Give me a sign!
This was a bitter
Dream of mine,...
"Bitter as aloes
It parched my tongue.
Upon the gallows
My life was hung.
"Sharp it seemed
As a bloody sword.
Peter, I dreamed
I was Christ the Lord!"
Peter turned
To holy Saint John:
His body burned
In the falling sun.
In the falling sun
He burned like flame:
"John, Saint John,
I have dreamed the same!
"My bones were hung
On an elder tree;
Bells were rung
Over Galilee.
"A silver penny
Sealed each of my eyes.
Many and many
A cock crew thrice."
When Peter's word
Was spoken and done,
"Were you Christ the Lord
In your dream? said John.
"No," said the other,
"That I was not.
I was your brother
Iscariot."
Isn't that a wonderful poem by Elinor Wylie? This came from one of my favorite poetry books MODERN AMERICAN POETRY. It was first published in 1919. My book is from 1930. A woman by the name of Ruth Young, from the University of Minnesota, has her name in the front of the book and has many notes and markings in it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if today we could use the word of our Lord in books in our schools again?
I'm thinking of the lyrics we sing in church: Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus. My daughter in March of 2004 gave to me, for my birthday, the book of songs with their history... entitled THEN SINGS MY SOUL...Robert J. Morgon.
Please post a comment about the poem above or any comments about this post.
Wonderful :D
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