Zacchæus

By Nancy Rebecca Campbell Glass

Narrative Poem
Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Luke 19:1-10.     City of palms! whose ancient name     Suggests a line of scarlet hue,     Type of thy glorious Guest who came     And passed with crowds thy borders through,     Did aught foretell that on that day,     The Lord of life would favor thee,     And centuries ring the novel way     A soul was made both glad and free?     Zacchæus knew that through thy gates     Came One he oft had longed to see;     Alas! how adverse were the fates     So dense the throng, so small was he!     Considering, he ran before     And climbed into a wayside tree,     And ever since the sycamore     Is blended with his history.     While peering eagerly below,     Above the tumult of the town     That soothing voice to mortal woe     Bade him to hasten quickly down.     "Come," Jesus said, "I must abide     And tarry at thy house with thee."     Zacchæus the honor swift applied,     And entertained him joyfully.     The people frowned that Christ should dine     With a rich sinner publican,     Nor knew his act of grace would shine,     A star of hope, to fallen man.     Zacchæus assured his royal guest,     "Lord, half my goods I give the poor;     And if I falsely have opprest,     Fourfold I unto men restore."     His listener reads the human heart     And all its thoughts unerringly;     Alone such wisdom can impart     And judge of its sincerity.     Jesus received this sin-sick soul,     Salvation to his house was given;     And while time's cycles onward roll,     His faith and works will point toward heaven.     "I came," the Lord of glory said     (Nor did he count the pain and cost),     "To feed the hungry soul with bread,     To seek and save that which was lost."

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem retells the story of Zacchaeus and Jesus from the Gospel of Luke, using a traditional structure and elevated language to elevate the narrative to a timeless moral lesson. The poem is structured as a single stanza, divided into fourteen quatrains, establishing a sense of continuous flow and narrative momentum. The regular iambic tetrameter and consistent rhyme scheme create a musicality that enhances the poem's devotional tone. The voice is that of an observant narrator, reflecting on the event and its significance. Imagery of crowds, palms, and a sycamore tree evokes a vivid scene, while the poem's focus on Zacchaeus's transformation from a sin-sick soul to a redeemed believer underscores the transformative power of faith. A shift occurs in the final stanza as the poem moves from Zacchaeus's perspective to Jesus's, broadening the scope to encompass the universality of Christ's mission to heal and save. The poem concludes by emphasizing Jesus's compassion and willingness to reach out to those who are lost, revealing the enduring message of hope and redemption found in this biblical encounter. This poem, through its formal structure and elevated language, elevates a simple biblical story into a timeless parable about grace and redemption.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.

Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.