264. In Portugal, 1912

AND will they cast the altars down,

Scatter the chalice, crush the bread?

In field, in village, and in town

He hides an unregarded head;

Waits in the corn-lands far and near,

Bright in His sun, dark in His frost,

Sweet in the vine, ripe in the ear—

Lonely unconsecrated Host.

In ambush at the merry board

The Victim lurks unsacrificed;

The mill conceals the harvest’s Lord,

The wine-press holds the unbidden Christ.