Edgar BAINTON - In the wilderness

Christ of his gentleness
Thirsting and hungering,
Walked in the wilderness;
Soft words of grace he spoke
Unto lost desert folk
That listened wondering.
He heard the bitterns call
On ruined palace wall,
Answered them brotherly.
He held communion
With the she-pelican
Of lonely piety.
Basilisk, cockatrice,
Flocked to his homilies,
With mail of dread device,
With monstrous barbèd stings,
With eager dragon eyes;
Great rats on leather wings,
And poor blind broken things
Foul in their miseries.
And ever with him went,
Of all his wanderings
Comrade, with ragged coat,
Gaunt ribs, poor innocent,
Bleeding foot, burning throat,
The guileless old scapegoat;
For forty nights and days
Followed in Jesus' ways,
Sure guard behind him kept,
Tears like a lover wept.

Robert Graves (1895-1985)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Blenheim Singers
• 'Twas for Thy Sake
• Oxford
• United Kingdom
• Blenheim Palace
• Howells
• Requiem
• Tom Hammond-Davies

[choirboyfromhell1]

A wonderful fun piece, we did it years ago in my cathedral job..and your performance brings back memories!