<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">After Ascension</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Those</span> twelve years from Ascension</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Until the day of meeting broke,</p><p class="line">She was not so much all alone</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">As it might seem to common folk,</p><p class="line">Because no day passed without bliss:</p><p class="line">He gives Himself back to her kiss.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">He comes no more in human guise,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Yet He is in their midst again.</p><p class="line">His wounds are there in all men's eyes,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">So doubting Thomas sees them plain;</p><p class="line">They pour the Wine and break the Bread,</p><p class="line">And the heart's hunger's comforted.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The Apostle takes the Cup of Wine,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The white Bread on the paten bright,</p><p class="line">O Food of angels dear, divine!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The Lord of Life comes down in light,</p><p class="line">And sweeter than the honeycomb</p><p class="line">Rests in the heart that was His home.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Give place! His Mother's claim is first;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Her arms embrace her Son once more:</p><p class="line">On the kind breast where He was nurst</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">He hath sweet ease as oft before.</p><p class="line">Morn after morn, through the twelve years,</p><p class="line">His love makes rapture of her tears.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">She guards the youngling Church as once</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">She kept her small Son while He grew,</p><p class="line">Safe sheltered from the winds and suns,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Comforted with soft rain and dew;</p><p class="line">Till it's full-grown and she is free</p><p class="line">For the long bliss that is to be.</p></div></body></html> · Great War