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Home  »  Complete Poetical Works by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow  »  St. John’s, Cambridge

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893.

A Book of Sonnets

St. John’s, Cambridge

  • The memorial chapel of St. John’s, erected by Robert Means Mason in connection with the Episcopal Theological School, stands close by the home of Mr. Longfellow.


  • I STAND beneath the tree, whose branches shade

    Thy western window, Chapel of St. John!

    And hear its leaves repeat their benison

    On him, whose hand thy stones memorial laid;

    Then I remember one of whom was said

    In the world’s darkest hour, “Behold thy son!”

    And see him living still, and wandering on

    And waiting for the advent long delayed.

    Not only tongues of the apostles teach

    Lessons of love and light, but these expanding

    And sheltering boughs with all their leaves implore,

    And say in language clear as human speech,

    “The peace of God, that passeth understanding,

    Be and abide with you forevermore!”