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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


PRIVATE JUDGMENT by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

Poet Analysis

First Line: POOR WAND'RERS, YE ARE SORE DISTRESS'D
Last Line: TO REIGN AS IN HER YOUTH.

POOR wand'rers, ye are sore distress'd
To find that path which Christ has bless'd,
Track'd by His saintly throng;
Each claims to trust his own weak will,
Blind idol! -- so ye languish still,
All wranglers and all wrong.

He saw of old, and met your need,
Granting you prophets of His creed,
The throes of fear to swage;
They fenced the rich bequest He made,
And sacred hands have safe convey'd
Their charge from age to age.

Wand'rers! come home! obey the call!
A Mother pleads, who ne'er let fall
One grain of Holy Truth;
Warn you and win she shall and must,
For now she lifts her from the dust,
To reign as in her youth.



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