Un Baisemain de Pâques
Maundy Thursday (Wilfred Owen)
Between the brown hands of a server lad
The silver cross was offered to be kissed.
The men came up, lugubrious, but not sad,
And knelt reluctantly, half-prejudiced
(And kissing, kissed the emblem of a creed).
Then mourning women knelt; meek mouths they had
(And kissed the Body of the Christ indeed).
Young children came, with eager lips and glad
(These kissed a silver doll, immensely bright).
Then I, too, knelt before that acolyte.
Above the crucifix I bent my head:
The Christ was thin, and cold, and very dead:
And yet I bowed, yea, kissed - my lips did cling.
(I kissed the warm live hand that held the thing.)
Between the brown hands of a server lad
The silver cross was offered to be kissed.
The men came up, lugubrious, but not sad,
And knelt reluctantly, half-prejudiced
(And kissing, kissed the emblem of a creed).
Then mourning women knelt; meek mouths they had
(And kissed the Body of the Christ indeed).
Young children came, with eager lips and glad
(These kissed a silver doll, immensely bright).
Then I, too, knelt before that acolyte.
Above the crucifix I bent my head:
The Christ was thin, and cold, and very dead:
And yet I bowed, yea, kissed - my lips did cling.
(I kissed the warm live hand that held the thing.)