He, of his gentleness
Thirsting and hungering
Walked in the Wilderness;
Soft words of grace he spoke
Unto lost desert-folk
That listned wondering
He heard the bittern call
From ruined palace-wall
Answered him brotherly;
He held communion
With the she-pelican
Of lonely piety
Basilisk, cockatrice
Flocked to his homilies
With mail of dread device
With monstrous barbed stings
With eager dragon-eyes;
Great bats on leathern wings
And old, blind, broken things
Mean in their miseries
Then ever with him went
Of all his wanderings
Comrade, with ragged coat
Gaunt ribs -- poor innocent --
Bleeding foot, burning throat
The guileless young scapegoat;
For forty nights and days
Followed in Jesus' ways
Sure guard behind him kept
Tears like a lover wept
Other Samuel Barber songs:
all Samuel Barber songs all songs from 1969