There is nothing more that they can do For all their rage and boast; Caiaphas with his blaspheming crew, Herod with his host, Pontius Pilate in his judgment hall Judging their Judge and his, Or he who led them all and passed them all Arch-Judas with his kiss. The sepulchre made sure with ponderous stone Seal that same stone, O priest; It may be thou shalt block the Holy One From rising in the east: Set a watch above the sepulchre To watch on pain of death; They must hold fast the stone if One should stir And shake it from beneath. God Almighty He can break a seal, And roll away a stone; Can grind the proud in dust who not kneel, And crush the mighty one. There is nothing more that they can do For all their passionate care, Those who sit in dust, the blessed few, And weep and rend their hair. Peter, Thomas, Mary Magdalen, The Virgin unreproved, Joseph with Nicodemus foremost men, And John the well-beloved. Bring your finest linen and your spice, Swathe the Sacred Dead, Bind with careful hands and piteous eyes The napkin round his Head; Lay Him in the garden rock to rest; Rest you the Sabbath length: The Sun That went down crimson in the west Shall rise renewed in strength. God Almighty shall give joy for pain, Shall comfort him who grieves: Lo, He with joy shall doubtless come again And with Him bring His sheaves. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE IN AUTUMN by SARA TEASDALE MONNA INNOMINATA, A SONNET OF SONNETS: 10 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1) by RICHARD HENRY STODDARD THE MILKMAID by JEFFREYS TAYLOR ZEUS TOO IS A VICTIM by ASCLEPIADES OF SAMOS ON THE YANGSTE KIANG by BERTON BRALEY |