@3Mu'htî and Mâni'h! Heaven Thou mad'st, and Hell, Providing and withholding,—and didst well@1. When God fashioned Paradise, Spake He unto Gabriel: "See this place which We created, Where the justified will dwell." Gabriel said, "My Lord! I swear By Thy glory, none of men Ever of its joys shall hear But will strive to enter in." Round about His Paradise God set sorrows and denials; Laid the pathway steep and strait, Hard to find and full of trials. "Look again!" God said; and he Looked, and came, and sadly spake: "By Thy glorious majesty, Not one man will entrance make!" Then the Lord created Hell, Set ablaze its ache and grieving; Saying unto Gabriel, "This is for the unbelieving." Gabriel looked and said, "I swear, By Thy splendor, not a mortal, When of hell-fire he shall hear, Ever will approach its portal." Round about those awful gates Allah set soft sins and pleasures; Made the pathway broad and plain, Rich with joys and gifts and treasures. "Look again," said God; and he Saw; and spake, "Save by Thy blessing, Oh, my Lord! there will not be One that must not love transgressing." @3Lord of the two-fold roads, we pray Lead us upon the rightful way@1. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...QUA CURSUM VENTUS by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH A PRAISE OF HIS LADY by JOHN HEYWOOD THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 38. THE MORROW'S MESSAGE by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI SILEX SCINTIALLANS: THEY ARE ALL GONE by HENRY VAUGHAN A SPRING CAROL by ALFRED AUSTIN QUILCA HOUSE TO THE DEAN by HENRY BROOKE HOME, SWEET HOME WITH VARIATIONS: 1. ORIGINAL THEME AS PAYNE WROTE IT by HENRY CUYLER BUNNER |