Poems (Charlotte Allen)/The Crucifixion

by Charlotte Allen

THE CRUCIFIXION.

The sun was veiled in darkest night,
 The earth groaned out aloud;
All nature felt the insult done,
 And to its centre bowed.
The firmest rocks were rent in twain,
 The graves gave up their dead,
And many saints that slept arose
 From their deep and quiet bed.

A darkness spread o'er all the earth,
 A total silence came,
When Jesus to the Cross was led,
 To suffer bitter pain.
His hands and feet they firmly nailed;
 A spear thrust in His side,
While foes surround their victim's Cross,
 And all His pains deride.

Upon His meek and holy head,
 A crown of thorns they placed,
A cup of vinegar and gall,
 They offered to his taste.
They bowed the knee in mockery,
 And spit upon him there,
Then cried, "All hail! king of the Jews,
 If thou be Christ, why there?

The bleeding sufferer patient bore
 His shameful, cruel death,
Cast a forgiving look around,
 And with his dying breath,
"Father! forgive them all," cried He,
 "They know not what they do!"
And with a saddened spirit, breathed
 His painful, last adieu.