13 March 2016

ANGLICAN Poetry: Alcuin

FROM ALCUIN OF YORK


Here, dying for the world, the world’s life hung,
   Having a world’s sin in that deathly tide;
That downbeat head reised earth above stars:
   O timeless wonder!  Life, because One died.

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He lay with quiet heart in the stern asleep:
   Waking, commanded both the winds and sea.
Christ, though this weary body slumber deep,
   Grant that my heart may keep its watch with thee.
O Lamb of God that carried all our sins,
   Guard thou my sleep against the enemy.

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O King of glory and Lord of Valours, our warrior and our peace, who hast said ‘Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world’, be thou victorious in us thy servants, for without thee we can do nothing.  Give us to will and to perform.  Grant thy compassion to go before us, thy compassion to come behind us:  before us in our understanding, behind us in our ending.  And what shall I now say, unless that thy will be done, who dost will that all men should be saved.  Thy will is our salvation, our glory, and our joy.


In Christ's love, Fr. Robert Pax