WHITE BROTHER

Midway between the flaming lines he lay,

A tumbled heap of blood, and sweat, and clay;

— God's son!

And none could succour him. First this one tried,

Then that... and then another... and they died;

— God's sons!

Those others saw his plight, and laughed and jeered,

And, at each helper's fall, laughed more, and cheered;

— God's sons?

So, through the torture of an endless day,

In agonies that none could ease, he lay;

— God's son!

Then, as he wrestled for each hard-won breath,

Bleeding his life out, craving only death;—

— God's son!

— Came One in white, athwart the fiery hail,

And in His hand, a shining cup — The Grail;

— God's Son!

He knelt beside him on the reeking ground,

And with a touch soothed each hot-throbbing wound;

— God's Son!

Gave him to drink, and in his failing ear

Whispered sweet words of comfort and good cheer;

— God's Son!

The suffering one looked up into the face

Of Him whose death to sinners brought God's grace;

— God's Son!

The tender brow with unhealed wounds was scarred,

The hand that held The Cup, the nails had marred;

— God's Son!

“Brother, for thee I suffered greater woes;

As I forgave,— do thou forgive thy foes,

— God's son!”

“Yea, Lord, as Thou forgavest, I forgive;

And now, my soul unto Thyself receive,

— God's Son!”

Thick-clustered in the battered trench, amazed,

They gazed at that strange sight... and gazed... and gazed;

— God's sons!

— The Christ of God, come down to succour one

Of their own number,— their own mate —

— God's son!

And none who saw that sight will e'er forget

How once, upon the field of death, they met

— God's Son.