Ill fares the priest to-day, who blinks the faith Of Easter, and, recoiling from the shock Of the great theme submitted to his flock, Reserves his thoughts about the Life and Death; How false he feels when our high feast returns! While, in his pulpit, on his sidelong eye The chalice gleams, the great East window burns, The snow-white board obtrudes its purity; And he must go and bless it - yea, he goes! Though covert ironies within him ask Whether, in very deed, our Day-star rose; 'Tis sad to see him how he takes his mask To meet the morning! timid and untrue, And missing all the sweet airs and the dew! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BERTHA IN THE LANE by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING OF TREASON by MARCUS VALERIUS MARTIALIS REMEMBER by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI SUMMER SUN by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON HYMN IX by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE KNIGHT AND THE LADY; DOMESTIC LEGEND OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM |