Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DEBTOR AND CREDITOR AM I, by WILLIAM ARTHUR DUNKERLEY First Line: All who have lived and gone Last Line: And therewith -- life's eternity. Alternate Author Name(s): Oxenham, John Subject(s): Religion; Theology | ||||||||
All who have lived and gone, Since Time began, -- And all that they have ever done, Since Time began, -- Their every thought, and word, and deed, Has been unconsciously a seed, Bringing its influence to bear Upon my mind and character. Yea, each and all, in their degree, Have had their part in making me, -- And you, -- Just simple you, and simple me. And equally -- Till Time shall end, And on through all eternity, -- In its degree, Each thought and word and deed of mine, Or makes or mars God's fair design. Not one but has its due effect, In ways by me all unsuspect, On all who shall come after me. No tiniest ripple on the sea But tells on its immensity. Here as I stand -- a simple man -- I am Time's heir Since Time began. And more, -- in my degree, Progenitor Of all that Time may have in store; -- Debtor and Creditor in one Of all that has been, shall be, done. I am at once effect and cause Of all that is to be or was. Enough, in truth, to make one pause In awe-struck wonder at the laws Which suffer no least thing to fail In carrying on the wondrous tale. In God's economy there is No end to once-born energies. The very leaf that falls and dies Lives on again in other guise; And no man for himself alone Can live, or his account disown. However small, for good or ill, He doth Life's purposes fulfil, And graves upon the deathless scroll The endless record of his soul. God's primal word was "Let there be!" And therewith -- Life's eternity. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY A NEW EARTH by WILLIAM ARTHUR DUNKERLEY |
|