Betrayal
“Whom I shall kiss,” I heard a Sunbeam say,
“Take him and lead away!”
Then, with the Traitor’s salutation, “Hail!”
He kissed the Dawn-Star pale.
To the Crucifix
Day after day the spear of morning bright
Pierces again the ever-wounded side,
Pointing at once the birthspring of the Light,
And where for Love the Light Eternal died.
The Mid-Day Moon
Behold, whatever wind prevail,
Slow westering, a phantom sail—
The lonely soul of Yesterday—
Unpiloted, pursues her way.
Heroes
Against the night, a champion bright,
The glow-worm, lifts a spear of light;
And, undismayed, the slenderest shade
Against the noonday bares a blade.
In Darkness
Dumb Silence and her sightless sister Sleep
Glide, mistlike, through the deepening Vale of Night;
Waking, where’er their shadowy garments sweep,
Dream-voices and an echoing dream of light.
John B. Tabb [1]
For a recitation, click the play button:
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/90019277″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
“Betrayal”: Later Lyrics, p. 47; Poetry, p. 334. October 1902. The poem alludes to Matthew 26:47-49; the Traitor is Judas.
“To the Crucifix”: Lyrics, p. 122; Poetry, p. 330. 1897. Father Tabb was quoted about this poem’s inspiration: “This came to me when I was present at the Confirmation of Philip Carroll at the Manor Church, when the sun shining through the window, fell upon the Crucifix upon the Altar.”
“The Mid-Day Moon”: Lyrics, p. 162; Poetry, p. 333. April 1894.
“Heroes”: Lyrics, p. 164; Poetry, p. 333. February 1895.
“In Darkness”: Lyrics, p. 149; Poetry, p. 332. January 1891.