| |
| THESE are the flowery fields, where first | |
| The wisdom of the Christ was nursed: | |
| Here first the wonder and surprise | |
| Of Nature lit the sacred eyes: | |
| Waters, and winds, and woodlands here, | 5 |
| With earliest music charmed His ear, | |
| For all His conscious youth drew breath, | |
| Among these hills of Nazareth. | |
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| The mothers praised His kingly head, | |
| His fearless and elastic tread, | 10 |
| His ringing voice in grove and dell | |
| Singing the songs of Israel. | |
| And Mary watched with joy and tears, | |
| And pride and awe, the ripening years | |
| Of her fair flower that bloom’d beneath | 15 |
| The cliffs that shelter Nazareth. | |
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| By fancies blinded and beguiled, | |
| Men say the Saviour never smiled; | |
| Ah, perfect youth and perfect boy, | |
| How could He choose but thrill for joy? | 20 |
| Nor yet the cruel cross He bore, | |
| Him God and man loved more and more; | |
| He prospered, and drew balmy breath | |
| In the fresh air of Nazareth. | |
| |
| And younger children, unreproved, | 25 |
| Made mirth around the youth they loved; | |
| To Him none proffered suit in vain, | |
| Unsolaced none confessed his pain; | |
| Oftimes He cooled the fevered head, | |
| And watch’d beside the sleepless bed: | 30 |
| Best comforter in life and death, | |
| Was Jesus unto Nazareth. | |
| |
| The quiet hills, the skies above, | |
| The faces round were bright with love; | |
| He lost not, in the tranquil place, | 35 |
| One hint of wisdom or of grace; | |
| Not unobserved, nor vague nor dim, | |
| The secret of the world to Him, | |
| The prayer He heard which Nature saith | |
| In the still glades by Nazareth. | 40 |
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| Yet graver, with the growth of years, | |
| The step, the face, the heart appears; | |
| The burden of the world He knows, | |
| The unloved Helper’s lonely woes | |
| Till, when the summons bids Him rise | 45 |
| From that still place of placid skies, | |
| Fearless, yet sorrowing unto death, | |
| Jesus goes forth from Nazareth. | |
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