The Living Temple
by Joseph Mary Plunkett (1887-1916)
O Covenant! O Temple! O frail
pride
Of God's high glory! Set your
snowy feet
On the Red Mountain, while the
pinions beat
Of proximate apocalypse. Uncried
Halloos of havoc, prophecies
denied
Fulfilment till the Dawn of
Wonder, fleet
In songs precursive down the
glittering street
Where dripped the blood from
wounded brows and side.
And you must walk the mountain
tops where rode
Gabriel, Raphael, Michael, when
the stars
Fell from their places, and
where Satan strode
To make his leap. Now bend the
cracking spars
Athwart the mast of the world--and
five deep scars
From that strong Cross call
you to their abode. |