As I Walked Out One Evening

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Matthew 22:34-46 CLASSIC POEM: Neither durst any Man from that day ask Him any more Questions. Richard Crashaw Midst all the dark and knotty snares, Black wit or malice can or dares, Thy glorious wisdom breaks the nets, And treads with uncontrolled steps. Thy quell’d foes are not only now Thy triumphs, but Thy trophies too: They, both at once Thy conquests be, And Thy conquest’s memory. Stony amazement makes them stand Waiting on Thy victorious hand, Like statues fixed to the fame Of Thy renown, and their own shame: As if they only meant to breathe, To be the life of their own death. ‘Twas time to hold their peace when they Had ne’er another word to say: Yet is their silence unto Thee, The full sound of Thy victory: Their silence speaks aloud, and is They well pronounced panegyris. While they speak nothing, they speak all Their share in Thy memorial. While they speak nothing, they proclaim Thee with the shrillest trump of fame. To hold their peace is all the ways These wretches have to speak Thy praise. *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: As I Walked Out One Evening W.H. Auden SNIPPET: … But all the clocks in the city Began to whirr and chime: ‘O let not Time deceive you, You cannot conquer Time. ‘In the burrows of the Nightmare Where Justice naked is, Time watches from the shadow And coughs when you would kiss. … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]