---

Herman Melville - The Martyr
Work rating: Medium

(Indicative of the Passion of the People
on the 15th Day of April, 1865)
* * *

Good Friday was the day
   Of the prodigy and crime,
When they killed him in his pity,
   When they killed him in his prime
Of clemency and calm—
      When with yearning he was filled
      To redeem the evil-willed,
And, though conqueror, be kind;
   But they killed him in his kindness,
   In their madness and their blindness,
And they killed him from behind.

      There is sobbing of the strong,
         And a pall upon the land;
      But the People in their weeping
            Bare the iron hand;
      Beware the People weeping
          When they bare the iron hand.

He lieth in his blood—
   The father in his face;
They have killed him, the Forgiver—
   The Avenger takes his place,
The Avenger wisely stern,
      Who in righteousness shall do
      What the heavens call him to,
And the parricides remand;
   For they killed him in his kindness,
   In their madness and their blindness,
And his blood is on their hand.

      There is sobbing of the strong,
         And a pall upon the land;
      But the People in their weeping
            Bare the iron hand;
      Beware the People weeping
          When they bare the iron hand.
Source
The script ran 0.002 seconds.