Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WHO CAN TELL?, by HARRY LARKYN


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WHO CAN TELL?, by                    
First Line: How do we know what hearts have vilest sin
Last Line: God bless us all!


How do we know what hearts have vilest sin?
How do we know?
Many, like sepulchres, are foul within,
Whose outward garb is spotless as the snow,
And many may be pure we think not so.
How near to God the souls of such have been,
What mercy secret penitence may win --
How do we know?

How can we tell who sinned more than we?
How can we tell?
We think our brother walked guiltily,
Judging him in self-righteousness. Ah, well!
Perhaps had we been driven through the hell
Of his untold temptations, we might be
Less upright in our daily walk than he --
How can we tell?

Dare we condemn the ills that others do?
Dare we condemn?
Their strength is small, their trials not a few,
The tide of wrong is difficult to stem.
And if to us more clearly than to them
Is given knowledge of the great and true,
More do they need our help and pity too --
Dare we condemn?

God help us all, and lead us day by day, --
God help us all!
We cannot walk alone the perfect way.
Evil allures us, tempts us, and we fall.
We are but human, and our power is small;
Not one of us may boast, and not a day
Rolls o'er our heads but each hath need to say,
God bless us all!





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