Page:Poems Kimball.djvu/49

For her, His Bride, to be exalted there,
And keeps with her meanwhile His awful tryst
Beneath the shadow of the Eucharist.
Within the nave the pulpit fair uprears,
Whence the glad message whoso hearkens hears;
As from the stone forever rolled away
The angel of the Resurrection Day
Proclaimed the tidings of the Risen Lord,
The crowning miracle that should afford
No room for doubt, and for denial none,—
Eternal life, eternal victory won.

The steps from nave to choir that upward lead
Teach us humility, and bid us heed
How we regard the Heaven-appointed priest
Who at the altar serves; though he be least
'Mong men, he standeth in the Lord's own stead
When in His Name he breaks the holy Bread,
And with the Hidden Manna duly feeds
The hungry flock that follows where he leads.
Yea, in the Name and Person of the Lord
He breaks the Bread and he proclaims the Word;
'T is from his hand thee stream Baptismal flows,
Pardon he speaks and peace, Christ's peace, bestows.

Within the choir mark first the lectern stand,
The stalls and prayer-desks ranged on either hand;
Here lies the Holy Book whose mysteries