Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, I LOOKED ON LIFE, by CHARLES HENRY MACKINTOSH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

I LOOKED ON LIFE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I looked on life, and found it to consist
Last Line: -- I saw myself, impatient, and a child.
Subject(s): God


I looked on life, and found it to consist
Mostly of things we might have had, but missed.

I looked on death, and saw that death was made
Of laws we never knew, but disobeyed.

I looked on youth, and found it half awake,
Wishing for things it lacked the skill to make.

I looked on age, and saw its cheeks were wet
With tears of pain, of memory, of regret.

I looked on wealth, greater than human need,
And watched it crush the owner and his seed.

I looked on poverty, and found it based
On exploitation, and on social waste.

I looked on fame, and saw that it was crowned
With poppies that were blown from bloody ground.

I looked on war, and saw the returning tide
Of ancient cruelties, and racial pride.

I looked on love, but could not separate
The tangled threads of lust, self-love, and hate.

I looked on GOD . . . God looked on me, and smiled:
-- I saw myself, impatient, and a child.





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