This poem on the life of Peter was inspired by the moving final scene of John’s gospel. It is structured as a chiasmus—which, after the Greek letter χ (chi), uses inverted parallelism to highlight key concepts and create interplay between paired stanzas.

When ancient time shuts tight its rusted doors And fastens keyless lock upon its stair, Beforehand emptying its storied floors Of all who have traversed and mingled there, What din or silence will those halls release As, ushered out into the last frontier, The throng of nations and of centuries On lush eternity’s expanse appears!