TWO GOOD FRIDAYS

New Zealand Tablet, 15 April 1915, Page 47

TWO GOOD FRIDAYS

At the end of * day. in down-gone spring 'leu thousand if one we were ,gathered to hear In the greatest , of ; temples , the great choir sing On the solemnest- saddest day of the year. ' ; Cardinals. and canons were there,and we, The thousands in silence who: hardly drew breath, When each forgot each, and it seemed that just he Was alone with a ' music as mournful as death. I remember the gloom, and the points of white fire Going out one by one till on© only remained; Then- a voice soaring up on the wings of desire. Like the heavenward flight of the lark unrestrained— Pure melody such as the angels’ ears hear When the Lamb with His virginal choir passes near. Then the singer was silent, and the altar in gloom. And we thought of Christ’s Body at rest in the tomb:: ' • To-day round the Fisherman’s throne they will sing All the same plangent threnodies over again; The woes of the Prophet, the psalms cf the King, And the great chant of sorrow, of suffering, and pain. While here, in a church that looks down on a strand Where the chorus of billows rolls forth night and day. We kept the great feast in this far-away land, And mourned Christ’s Death in our own humble way. In spirit we watched Him pass through the thronged street, ■ - With the cross that- (o save us so gladly He ‘ bore, ; Saw the rude nails tear open these dear hands and feet. And the love-giving flood from His sacred side pour. Wo came forth, and low down on the rim of the wave. Saw the sun sinking solemnly into its grave; One and all we were silent ; and there in the gloom All our thoughts were with Christ’s Body laid in the tomb. Rev. J. Kelly, Fh.D. ■