I.
Behold the mighty Lord of heav’n and earth,
Moved with compassion at the dead man’s grave!
The love, the majesty, the pow’r of Him,
Who still’d the tempest–walk’d upon the wave!
II.
The Maker o’er the creature weeps! but why?
Not for the young man’s death, for well He knew,
That quick as lightning would His powerful word
Thro’ the cold clay vitality renew!
III.
Ah, no! ’twas sympathy that caused His tears;
They flow’d with sorrow for the bitter woes,
That man by his rebellion must endure:
His grief for sin was more than woman’s throes.
IV.
O heav’n! O earth! ye stars that shine above,
Behold amazed your Maker! with the dread
And mighty voice, that bade the spheres to be!
He wakes to life the half putrescent dead!
V.
“Laz’rus come forth!” Lo! at the word he comes,
Who four days past had rotted in the tomb;
And tho’ with grave clothes bound, he straightway stands
In all the vigour of life’s freshest bloom!
VI.
The stagnant blood in liquid currents flows–
In beauties new he sees the world arise,
To his astonish’d and ecstatic soul:
Then prostrate at his Saviour’s feet he lies!
VII.
He lives a monument of Jesus’ pow’r,
Stupendous, wonderful, benign! and he
Must own its influence to his latest hour,
And let mankind his grateful homage see.
VIII.
His Sisters round him now with rapture cling,
Anxious their heartfelt tenderness to prove;
He clasps them in his arms, and bathes with tears,
And blesses with a brother’s fondest love.
IX.
Could language tell the ardent, thrilling joy,
That animated ev’ry bosom there?
Pure as the azure of the spreading sky,
And deep, and full, and holy, bright, and clear.
(Mary Ann Carter)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, Life Poems, World Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Soul Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Youth Poems, Jesus Christ Poems, Sin Poems, Lies & Deceit Poems, Brothers PoemsBased on Keywords: rus, putrescent, laz