The Wayside Feast

Bread that camest down from Heaven,

Fruit of the eternal tree;

Banquet which my God has given

Even unto me;

Lo, before the world that scorneth,

I give thanks and eat,

At the table in the desert,

Spread with heavenly meat;

Wine of the divinest gladness,

Milk and honey sweet.

In the wilderness unwatered,

In the lonely land,

This the feast of God made ready

By His mighty Hand;

Thither came I, spent and weary,

Hungry and athirst,

From the wastes of thorn and thistle

Of the land accursed,

There to find the feast where angels

Serve, but may not share—

None but Christ and His redeemed ones

Gathered round Him there.

There the desert blossometh,

There the waters spring;

There the psalteries make music,

There the blessed sing.

By the heavenly banquet strengthened,

Short the way to me,

Over moor and fen and mountain,

O'er the pathless sea;

For the glory of His City

Shines along the road

Where the feet unwearied journey

To the Home of God.