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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SIMON PETER, by W. C. A. WALLAR First Line: Thrust from the eucharist where paul the free Last Line: And sealed the christ-love in companionship. Subject(s): Peter, Saint (c. 64 A.d.) | |||
Thrust from the Eucharist where Paul the Free With Christian gentiles sat, old Peter tramped The Orontes' shingle to the westward sea, Thick-browed and lone, though skirting purple sweeps Not unlike Galilee. There he beheld Once more The Man, nail-marked, in deathless youth. "Dost love me, Galilean?" A hungry heart Flung through impetuous lips the echo words. "All this I made for thee," the Man replied, His gesture measuring range and firmament. So power and mind bedimmed the heart's faint hope And set the doctrine whirling in the brain. Again the Rock: "O Comrade, lovest thou me?" Compassion spoke: "The Cross? These palm-pierced hands? The death cry? Prove they not my love of thee?" Then, while the Face slid formless into day, The Rock, of loneliness, fell on the sands, And through the sun's course lay until the dawn. A third cry agonized: "Dost love me, Friend?" The Lord was grieved because he said three times, "Me? Dost thou love?" And so withheld reply Till that far day in Rome when martyr nails Stung Peter's hands and feet with honor scars And sealed the Christ-love in companionship. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MEANING OF THE LOOK by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE LOOK by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING I SHALL KNOW WHY, WHEN TIME IS OVER by EMILY DICKINSON THE VISION OF ST. PETER by JOHN MILTON HAY PETER AND JOHN by ELINOR WYLIE ROADSIDE POEMS: SAINT PETER by GEORGE MACDONALD THE TRAITOR by JOHN COWPER POWYS |
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