Knew Thou afore the Gentiles shouldst Thee scourge and crucify?
Yea, didst foretell upon the third day Thou alive would rise?
Shouldst not Thou then have been serene upon Golgotha’s cross?
For what pain fleeting couldst o’erpow’r Thy joy victorious?
Yet Thou cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?”
Yes Thou didst cry, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”
How was it that Thou felt forsaken upon the Cross foretold?
Shouldst not the thought of life regained have made Thee all more bold?
Or was Thy cry the nature of Thy stiffnecked people led?
Did it say that God-forsaken are those for whom Thou bled?
Hast Thou partak’n our wand’ring way that we, too, might believe?
Through Thee hast our abandonment become our Life received?
Doth prophets tell us over how we do forsake our Lord?
“Where is my wealth, my pride, my leek, my shade-providing gourd?”
“Who shall grave a molten calf that we may frolic about?”
“What new darksome beauty leads us to next adult’rous rout?”
For ages didst all seek Thy grace in gods they did not know?
And dost thou by Thy plaintive cry all ages God bestow?
“Can any good thing come out of Nazareth the city?”
How can it be that I withhold my heart and love from Thee?.
Do transient pains of life make us the Holy Rood forswear?
Didst Thou when all abandoned Thee still yet embrace our fare?
And shouldst Thou ask “Will you my chosen turn away also?”
Eternal Life bids us reply, “Lord, to whom shall we go?”