Saint John Baptist
By William Henry Drummond
The last and greatest Herald of Heavens King,
Girt with rough skins, hies to the deserts wild,
Among that savage brood the woods forth bring,
Which he than man more harmless found and mild.
His food was locusts, and what young doth spring
With honey that from virgin hives distilld;
Parchd body, hollow eyes, some uncouth thing
Made him appear, long since from earth exiled.
There burst he forth: All ye, whose hopes rely
On God, with me amidst these deserts mourn;
Repent, repent, and from old errors turn!
Who listend to his voice, obeyd his cry?
Only the echoes, which he made relent,
Rung from their marble caves Repent! Repent!