Poem October 8, 1949 Issue

THIS IS THE CHRIST

Carol Earle Chapin

John of the wilderness, fervent ascetic.
eater of locusts, thundering
instant repentance.
you worshiped God and cherished righteousness.
but not in the highest way.
our scorn of matter, your acknowledgment of error,
became your prison bars.
Uncertainly you sent to ask the Master,
"Are you the one we've looked for?"
In meekness he forbore to say, "Of course, that one is I!"
Instead, with gentle healing touch
he turned your thought away from person
and lifted you to recognize
the fruitful workings of the Christ-idea in consciousness:
the seeing eyes, unhalting step,
the clear and radiant countenance, the hearing ear,
the waking from the dream of death
and drinking in of Truth.
He declared, for that momentous hour
and for eternity,
"This is the Christ:
this liberating light,
this true idea of God, the One and All,
and man His own—
here is the Christ that heals!"