Richard Watson Gilder

The Celestial Passion. Part 2. 6. Holy Land

This is the earth he walked on; not alone
⁠     That Asian country keeps the sacred stain;
     ⁠Ah, not alone the far Judæan plain,
⁠     Mountain and river! Lo, the sun that shone
On him, shines now on us; when day is gone
     ⁠The moon of Galilee comes forth again
     ⁠And lights our path as his; an endless chain
     ⁠Of years and sorrows makes the round world one.
The air we breathe, he breathed—the very air
     ⁠That took the mold and music of his high
     ⁠And godlike speech. Since then shall mortal dare
With base thought front the ever-sacred sky—
⁠     Soil with foul deed the ground whereon he laid
⁠     In holy death his pale, immortal head!