Good Friday was the day Of the prodigy and crime, When they killed him in his pity, When they killed him in his prime Of clemency and calm -- When with yearning he was filled To redeem the evil-willed, And, though conqueror, be kind; But they killed him in his kindness, In their madness and their blindness, And they killed him from behind. There is sobbing of the strong, And a pall upon the land; But the People in their weeping Bare the iron hand: Beware the People weeping When they bare the iron hand. He lieth in his blood -- The father in his face; They have killed him, the Forgiver -- The Avenger takes his place, The Avenger wisely stern, Who in righteousness shall do What the heavens call him to, And the parricides remand; For they killed him in his kindness, In their madness and their blindness, And his blood is on their hand. There is sobbing of the strong, And a pall upon the land; But the People in their weeping Bare the iron hand: Beware the People weeping When they bare the iron hand. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SHIP OF RIO by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE THE WINDOW; OR, THE SONG OF THE WRENS: THE LETTER by ALFRED TENNYSON LET ME FORGET by OMA CARLYLE ANDERSON SOLDIERS OF FREEDOM by KATHARINE LEE BATES WHAT IS LONDON'S LAST NEW LION? by THOMAS HAYNES BAYLY THE STALLION OF NIGHT by WILLIAM ROSE BENET THE THREE SAD SHEPPARDESSES, GOE TO A LITTLE TABLE, WHERE THEY SINGE by ELIZABETH BRACKLEY |