| Nicholson & Lee, eds. The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse. 1917. |
| |
| 341. I saw the Sun at Midnight, rising red |
| By Joseph Mary Plunkett (1887–1916) |
| |
| I SAW the Sun at midnight, rising red, | |
| Deep-hued yet glowing, heavy with the stain | |
| Of blood-compassion, and I saw It gain | |
| Swiftly in size and growing till It spread | |
| Over the stars; the heavens bowed their head | 5 |
| As from Its heart slow dripped a crimson rain, | |
| Then a great tremor shook It, as of pain— | |
| The night fell, moaning, as It hung there dead. | |
| O Sun, O Christ, O bleeding Heart of flame! | |
| Thou giv’st Thine agony as our life’s worth, | 10 |
| And mak’st it infinite, lest we have dearth | |
| Of rights wherewith to call upon thy Name; | |
| Thou pawnest Heaven as a pledge for Earth, | |
| And for our glory sufferest all shame. | |
|
|
