Christ and The Pagan by John Bannister Tabb

Christ and The Pagan

by John Bannister Tabb

I had no God but these,
The sacerdotal Trees,
And they uplifted me.
–
‘I hung upon a Tree.’
–
The sun and moon I saw,
And reverential awe
Subdued me day and night.
–
‘I am the perfect Light.’
–
Within a lifeless Stone-
All other gods unknown-
I sought Divinity.
–
‘The Corner-Stone am I.’
–
For sacrificial feast
I slaughtered man and beast,
Red recompense to gain.
–
‘So I, a Lamb, was slain.
–
‘Yea; such My hungering Grace
That wheresoe’er My face
Is hidden, none may grope
Beyond eternal Hope.’

Quatrains by John Bannister Tabb

Father Damien

O God, the cleanest offering
Of tainted earth below,
Unblushing to thy feet we bring—
“A leper white as snow!“

 

Deep Unto Deep

Where limpid waters lie between,
There only heaven to heaven is seen:
Where flows the tide of mutual tears
There only heart to heart appears.

The Assumption

Nor Bethlehem nor Nazareth
Apart from Mary’s care;
Nor heaven itself a home for Him
Were not His mother there.

Helplessness 

In patience as in labour must thou be
A follower of Me,
Whose hands & feet, when most I wrought for thee,
Were nailed unto a tree.