TO whom the heavy burden clings, It yet may serve him like a staff; One day the cross will break in wings, The sinner laugh a holy laugh. The dwarfed Zacchæus climbed a tree, His humble stature set him high; The Lord the little man did see Who sought the great man passing by. Up to the tree he came, and stopped: "To-day," he said, "with thee I bide." A spirit-shaken fruit he dropped, Ripe for the Master, at his side. Sure never host with gladder look A welcome guest home with him bore! Then rose the Satan of rebuke And loudly spake beside the door: "This is no place for holy feet; Sinners should house and eat alone! This man sits in the stranger's seat And grinds the faces of his own!" Outspoke the man, in Truth's own might: "Lord, half my goods I give the poor; If one I've taken more than right With four I make atonement sure!" "Salvation here is entered in; This man indeed is Abraham's son!" Said he who came the lost to win— And saved the lost whom he had won. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BELEAGUERED CITY by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 77. SOUL'S BEAUTY by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI SPRING'S UNFOLDING by IRENE ARCHER UPON THE SAME by DECIMUS MAGNUS AUSONIUS APPLE-BLOSSOM by MATHILDE BLIND PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A GHOST by ALTER BRODY A SONG FOR ANNE by JOAN CAMPBELL ENTERTAINMENT GIVEN BY LORD KNOWLES: SYLVANUS SPEAKS by THOMAS CAMPION |