A bird flew out at the break of day
\n From the nest where it had curled,
\nAnd ere the eve the bird had set
\n Fear on the kings of the world.<\/p>\n
The first tree it lit upon
\n Was green with leaves unshed;
\nThe second tree it lit upon
\n Was red with apples red;<\/p>\n
The third tree it lit upon
\n Was barren and was brown,
\nSave for a dead man nailed thereon
\n On a hill above a town.
That night the kings of the earth were gay
\n And filled the cup and can;
\nLast night the kings of the earth were chill
\n For dread of a naked man.<\/p>\n
\u201d\u02dcIf he speak two more words,\u2019 they said,
\n \u201d\u02dcThe slave is more than the free;
\nIf he speak three more words,\u2019 they said,
\n\u201d\u02dcThe stars are under the sea.\u2019<\/p>\n
Said the King of the East to the King of the West,
\n I wot his frown was set,
\n\u201d\u02dcLo, let us slay him and make him as dung,
\n It is well that the world forget.\u2019<\/p>\n
Said the King of the West to the King of the East,
\n I wot his smile was dread,
\n\u201d\u02dcNay, let us slay him and make him a god,
\n It is well that our god be dead.\u2019<\/p>\n
They set the young man on a hill,
\n They nailed him to a rod;
\nAnd there in darkness and in blood
\n They made themselves a god.<\/p>\n
And the mightiest word was left unsaid,
\n And the world had never a mark,
\nAnd the strongest man of the sons of men
\n Went dumb into the dark.<\/p>\n
Then hymns and harps of praise they brought,
\n Incense and gold and myrrh,
\nAnd they thronged above the seraphim,
\n The poor dead carpenter.<\/p>\n
\u201d\u02dcThou art the prince of all,\u2019 they sang,
\n \u201d\u02dcOcean and earth and air.\u2019
\nThen the bird flew on to the cruel cross,
\n And hid in the dead man\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n
\u201d\u02dcThou art the son of the world.\u2019 they cried, `
\n \u201d\u02dcSpeak if our prayers be heard.\u2019
\nAnd the brown bird stirred in the dead man\u2019s hair
\n And it seemed that the dead man stirred.<\/p>\n
Then a shriek went up like the world\u2019s last cry
\n From all nations under heaven,
\nAnd a master fell before a slave
\n And begged to be forgiven.<\/p>\n
They cowered, for dread in his wakened eyes
\n The ancient wrath to see;
\nAnd a bird flew out of the dead Christ\u2019s hair,
\n And lit on a lemon tree.<\/p>\n
–G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A bird flew out at the break of day From the nest where it had curled, And ere the eve the bird had set Fear on the kings of the world. The first tree it lit upon Was green with…<\/span><\/p>\n