Thoughts on "The Altar"

The Altar reminded me of the Biblical story of Abraham and Isaac. In the story, God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac with a knife (presumably stone, because this was before the metal ages) and burn his body as an offering. This poem seems very sad, as if the sacrifice the author is giving is a part of himself. I believe the second line is a metaphor for the broken heart this father feels when he realizes that his only son will die by his own hand. The line "no workman's tool hath touch'd the same" possibly refers to the idea that his son is not some wooden carving or piece of clothing that will be burned, but a living breathing human being. The next few lines seem like he's gathering the courage to kill his son because he believes that it must be done if it is God's will. "That if I chance to hold my peace, these stones to praise thee may not cease" could refer to the public stoning Abraham would face were he to murder his son. He may be praying that once the sacrifice is done and over with, the public stoning that will be his punishment would kill him, so he could join his son in death. The last two lines seem to be a build-up to an action event that happens right after those two lines are spoken. I could almost see Abraham raising the knife, about to sacrifice his only child, while saying these last two lines. Of course, in the story God stopped Abraham and Isaac was safe, but it was the idea that he was willing to sacrifice his son that was important.