Selected Poems of Robert Buchanan

there; 'Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot Look'd on it in despair. The breath of the World came and went Like a sick man's in rest; Drop by drop on the World's eyes The dews fell cool and blest. Then the soul of Judas Iscariot Did make a gentle moan? " I will bury underneath the ground My flesh and blood and bone. " I will bury deep beneath the soil, Lest mortals look thereon, And when the wolf and raven come The body will be gone ! " The stones of the field are sharp as steel, And hard and cold, God wot; And I must bear my body hence Until I find a spot!" 'Twas the soul of Judas Iscariot, So grim, and gaunt, and gray, Raised the body of Judas Iscariot, And carried it away. And as he bare it from the field Its touch was cold as ice, And the ivory teeth within the jaw Rattled aloud, like dice. As the soul of Judas Iscariot Carried its load with pain, The Eye of Heaven, like a lanthorn's eye, Open'd and shut again. Half he walk'd, and half he seem'd Lifted on the cold wind; He did not turn, for chilly hands Were pushing from behind. The first place that he came unto It was the open wold, And underneath were prickly whins, And a wind that blew so cold. The next place that he came unto It was a stagnant pool, And when he threw the body in It floated light as wool. He drew the body on his back, And it was dripping chill, And the next place he came unt...