Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IN THE NAME OF JESUS OF NAZARETH, by ANONYMOUS First Line: "glows once more in the russian sky, the blood" Last Line: "my brother, jesus of nazareth" Subject(s): Catholics;jesus Christ;jews;russia; Roman Catholics;catholicism;judaism;soviet Union;russians | ||||||||
GLOWS once more in the Russian sky, the bloodred dawn of a day of hate Shrills at the Throne of God, the cry of a people that faints 'neath its cross's weight, Of a people hounded and done to death In the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Bells are ringing and organs peal; a thousand choirs their hymns upraise; Peasant and pope at the altar kneel, and lone, in his guarded palace, prays The fear-torn despot; and thus he saith: In the name of Jesus of Nazareth: "Father in Heaven, thy reign of love come, and Thy will on this earth be done, Even as it is in Thy courts above. Forgive us, as we forgive everyone; And tempt us never, but keep from scath In the name of Jesus of Nazareth." Up to God's throne with the organ's voice and the chime of bells, goes the mob's fierce shout: Drowned are the hymns by the horrid noise of curses and groans and the thud of knout; For the tyrant's prayer is a liar's breath In the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Christians, say, shall a savage Tsar blaspheme unchidden the name of Christ? Yours, not mine, is this holy war, by your faith in him that was sacrificed By your faith that your souls may be saved from death In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth! One is the Fatherhis sons all men. These brothers of mine are your brothers, too; Save our brothers, I charge you, then, in their brother's name whom the Romans slew In his name, who forgave with his dying breath My brother, Jesus of Nazareth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OXOTA: A SHORT RUSSIAN NOVEL: CHAPTER 259 by LYN HEJINIAN A FOREIGN COUNTRY by JOSEPHINE MILES THE DIAMOND PERSONA by NORMAN DUBIE IN MEMORIAM: 1933 (7. RUSSIA: ANNO 1905) by CHARLES REZNIKOFF TAKE A LETTER TO DMITRI SHOSTAKOVITCH by CARL SANDBURG READING THE RUSSIANS by RUTH STONE THE SOVIET CIRCUS VISITS HAVANA, 1969 by VIRGIL SUAREZ A PROBLEM IN AESTHETICS by KAREN SWENSON TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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