Observations placeholder
Hawker, Robert Stephen - Ephphatha - High matins now in bower and hall
Identifier
000138
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Robert Stephen Hawker - Ephphatha
High matins now in bower and hall,
It is the Baptist's festival;
What showers of gold the sunbeams rain,
Through the tall window's purple pane!
What rich hues on the pavement lie
A molten rainbow from the sky.
But light and shadow loveliest fall
Yonder, along the southward wall
Where ceased, e'en now, the chanted hymn
Of that grey man whose eyes are dim;
'Twas an old legend quaintly sung,
Caught from some far barbarian tongue.
He asks, and bread of wheat they bring;
He thirsts for water from the spring
Which flowed of old and still flows on,
With name and memory of St John;
So fares the pilgrim in that hall,
E'en on the Baptist's festival.
'How sad a sight is blind old age!'
Thus said the lady's youthful page;
'He eats, but sees not on that bread
What glorious radiance there is shed;
He drinks from out that chalice fair
Nor marks the sunlight glancing there'