Tabb Centenary Year XXXIII

Five quatrains by Rev. John B. Tabb.

Abashed

The cock crows; and behold the hidden Day,
   The thrice-denied, appears,
And Darkness, conscience-stricken, steals away,
   His face bedewed with tears.

1910 (p. 335, Quatrains: Day and Night)

Archery

A bow across the sky,
   Another in the river
Whence swallows upward fly,
   Like arrows from a quiver.

1899 (p. 330, Quatrains: Birds)

The Lark

He rose and singing passed from sight:
   A shadow kindling with the sun,
His joy ecstatic flamed, till light
   And heavenly song were one.

August 1892 (p. 329, Quatrains: Birds)

The Sunbeam

A ladder from the land of light,
   I rest upon the sod,
Whence dewy angels of the night
   Climb back again to God.

December 1892 (p. 331, Quatrains: Day and Night)

Signals

The prophet Star, the Maiden Dawn, the Sun—
   So light begins his reign;
Then Sunset, widowed Twilight, and anon
   The prophet Star again.

July 1904 (p. 336, Quatrains: Day and Night)

[“Abashed”: the poem alludes to the narrative in Matthew 26:69-75. “The Sunbeam”: the poem alludes to the Old Testament story of Jacob's Ladder, Genesis 28:10-22; see also John 1:51. “Signals”: anon means soon.]

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Sun. 05/24/09 08:08:44 AM
Categorized as Father Tabb Centenary Year & Literary.