Classic Poem

Hard is the ground thou hast, my Vine,
Strange is the soil where thou art placed:
This is not, here, thy native home,
Yet run not all to waste!
Some few though slender clusters rear,
For love of Him who plants thee here:
Thus answered be His pain.
Nor all His labor vain.

A hollow rock behind thee stands,
That shields thee from the northern storm,—
Into the bosom of thy leaves
Gathers the sunshine warm.
Along thy trellis-frame are trained
The tender shoots thy growth has gained:
Thus strengthened may they rise
Up tow'rd the sunny skies.

Then drink the dews of heaven, my Vine,
Draw from the earth her juices rare,
With its round-swelling lusciousness
Thy purple burthen bear,
Until the vintage days draw nigh;
Then from the wine-press, laden high,
The ruddy stream shall flow,
To cheer the heart of woe!

And hast thou never heard, my Soul,
There is another, nobler Vine,
Planted by God , when Time was young,
In blessed Palestine?
H E stretched his boughs from ocean blue,
His branches to the river grew;
Now to the wide world's ends
Their woven shade extends.

Placed in a thirsty, barren land,
Yet of this Vine, my Soul, art thou,
Like all thy brother Christian men,
A young and tender bough:
Sublime thy R OCK behind thee towers,
H E shields thee from the storm, and showers
The sunshine of His grace
Upon thy up-turned face.

Nor do His boughs untended droop,
Nor idly in the breezes swing,
Nor their blind tendrils feel in vain
For strength where they may cling.
For lo! the Church, and brethren dear,
Parents, and priests, and angels near,
(A wondrous frame-work) stand
Among His chosen band.

And steady, from the parent stem,
The life-bestowing current flows;
And under all, with Father's love,
And more than Mother's woes,
The “everlasting arms” are spread;
While dewy clouds roll overhead,
And leave the barren plain
Soft with the drops of rain.

Then deep drink in the dews of Heaven,
Grow 'neath the nurture of His hand,
That when, at His high nuptial feast
The L AMB OF God shall stand,
And, with his white-robed Bride Divine,
Shall drink anew His spousal wine,
Thy Life-blood may be poured
In the chalice of thy L ORD !