Page:Poems Hale.djvu/211

Whose hand unbarred the doors of heaven, who bade
Their vision gaze on the unclouded light
Revealed within.

     The day was now far spent,
Yet pensive eve, with soft and balmy breath,
Scarce wooed their ravished spirits to repose,
So deep and holy was the spell that breathed
From the Redeemer's words. His followers came,
And prayed him speedily to send away
The famished multitudes. With gentle voice
He turned, unheeding their request, and said,
"Let them not go, but give ye them to eat."
With glance astonished on the Master's face
They gazed, and answered, "See our scanty store,—
Five loaves and two small fishes. What are they
Among so many?"

       "Bring them unto me,"
The Saviour said: then to the throne of God
In fervent prayer his eye he raised, and asked
His Father's blessing on the humble meal.

 Faith! Prayer! O! what a holy might is yours!
Ye have unloosed the gates of death, brought back
To earth the soul released from its embrace,
Eyes to the blind have given, bade the dumb
Break forth in strains of fervent thanksgiving,
And have brought near to man thy holy mount,
Jerusalem! "the mother of us all!"

 He gave to his disciples: they in turn
Dispensed it to the seated multitude.