Now he walked on the angry wave, Now he sank in the watery grave; Now he rose in triumphant faith, Now he fell toward threatening death, Peter, the wave man. Now he firmly stood for the Lord, Based his life on the living Word, Saw in Jesus the Godhead shine, Dared to call him the Christ divine, Peter, the rock man. Now he rebukes Christ in his pride, Now he has even his Lord denied; Now he uses a silly sword, Now he shrinks at a maiden's word, Peter, the wave man. Now he weeps in his agony; Now he listens: "Lovest thou me?" Now and for aye, as at Pentecost, He stands for the Saviour that once he lost, Peter, the rock man. Rough old fisherman brotherly dear, Near to my weakness, very near, Far from your folly I would flee, Brave with your boldness I would be Peter, a rock man! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONTRA MORTEM: THE WATER by HAYDEN CARRUTH LETHE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: ALBERT SCHIRDING by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE PICTURE (VENUS RECLINING) by EZRA POUND AN EVANGELIST'S WIFE by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON CAPUT MORTUUM by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON ELEGY: THE LAMENT OF EDWARD BLASTOCK; FOR RICHARD ROWLEY by EDITH SITWELL |