The Crown Of Thorns

“And unto Adam He said…. cursed is the ground for thy sake. Thorns…. shall bring it forth.”

“And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head.”

In bitterest sorrow did the ground bring forth

Its fatal seed. Thine eye beheld the birth-

Beheld the travail of accursèd earth;

E’en then, O Lord! in greater love than wrath!

Thou sawest the sin that none could gather out-

The vineyard cover’d with the thorn and briar;

Thou sawest the fair land ready for the fire-

And still Thy pity compass’d it about.

Thou, O most merciful! didst spare the brand;

Thou didst redeem the Paradise of God;

The thorns were rooted from the stubborn sod.

In pain and toil, by Thine own blessèd hand.

How was our path to heaven o’er grown with sin-

Bramble, and thistle, and the poisonous weed!

Though hearts should break, and patient feet should bleed,

And strive and struggle, none could walk therein.

And Thou didst call us when we went astray-

Didst make our high road straight for evermore;

And, for our guidance, passèd on before,

Leaving Thy shining footprints in the way.

Still do the wild thorns hedge us round about;

Still grow the thistles from the ancient stock;

Still trails the bramble on the blasted rock-

But we can dig, and Thou wilt pull them out.

Ay, we can work-oh, help us in the strife!

Labour is sweet, for Thou dost share it now.

And we shall eat, in sweat of furrow’d brow,

Not earthly food, but Thine own Bread of Life.

And there are thorns of suffering left behind-

Sorrow and loss-that weigh our courage down;

But, ah! we know Thy sacramental crown

Was made of sin and sorrow, intertwined.

Give us of Thy sweet patience, Lord, we pray.

We would not spurn them with rebellious kicks,

Nor fret and strive, for Thou canst feel the pricks;

We too would wear them as a crown for aye.

We would put on Thy likeness-we, the least

And most unworthy. Ay, each piercing thorn,

In Thy name patiently and meekly worn,

Shall bear a blossom for the bridal feast.

Look down, O Brother with the yearning eyes!

Behold us kneeling at Thy bitter cross!

Grant us a share in all Thine earthly loss,

That we may share Thy gain in Paradise.

O weary Head! we see Thee drooping now

Beneath that diadem of mortal pain:

We see Thee sprinkled with the scarlet stain;-

Drop down the chrism on our polluted brow!

O sacred Head!-pale, beautiful, benign-

On our heads be Thy precious blood, we cry!

Lo, the destroying angel, passing by,

Shall spare to smite us-reverencing the sign.

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Poems in English 

• Алексей Николаевич Толстой – Дафнис подслушивает сов by Алексей Толстой
• Толстой Алексей Николаевич стихи: Читать стихотворения Алексея Толстого – Список произведений, стихов поэта на Poetry Monster by Алексей Толстой
• The Hecatomb to his Mistress by John Cleveland by John Cleveland
• To the State of Love. Or the Senses’ Festival. By John Cleveland by John Cleveland
• I love you by Александр Башлачёв
• A Human Being Needs Strong Tea by Поэзия На Русском
• Dog racing by Поэзия На Русском
• Dissolve in kisses, I would like to dissolve in your kisses by Поэзия На Русском
• Tale of the Pope and of His Workman Balda by Александр Пушкин
• Who of you ever by Поэзия На Русском
• Аnything can happen by Fledermaus
• Outside the Window, Snow by Поэзия На Русском
• You must once by Поэзия На Русском
• February 23 by Поэзия На Русском
• May 19th – the Young Pioneers Day by Поэзия На Русском
• Море волнуется, манит к себе by Поэзия На Русском
• Море огней украшает причалы, вокзалы by Поэзия На Русском
• Кипение by Поэзия На Русском
• Каждому сроку – свой путь by Поэзия На Русском
• Каждый день и каждый миг судьбу благодарю by Поэзия На Русском

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