Ascension Day

When Christ went up to Heaven the Apostles stayed
   Gazing at Heaven with souls and wills on fire,
Their hearts on flight along the track He made,
      Winged by desire.


Their silence spake: “Lord, why not follow Thee?
   Home is not home without Thy Blessed Face,
Life is not life. Remember, Lord, and see,
      Look back, embrace.


“Earth is one desert waste of banishment,
   Life is one long-drawn anguish of decay.
Where Thou wert wont to go we also went:
      Why not today?”


Nevertheless a cloud cut off their gaze:
   They tarry to build up Jerusalem,
Watching for Him, while thro’ the appointed days
      He watches them.


They do His Will, and doing it rejoice,
   Patiently glad to spend and be spent:
Still He speaks to them, still they hear His Voice
      And are content.


For as a cloud received Him from their sight,
   So with a cloud will He return ere long:
Therefore they stand on guard by day, by night,
      Strenuous and strong.


They do, they dare, they beyond seven times seven
   Forgive, they cry God’s mighty word aloud:
Yet sometimes haply lift tired eyes to Heaven—
      “Is that His cloud?”


-- Christina Rossetti