Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OF ONE FLESH, by PHOEBE CARY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OF ONE FLESH, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: A man he was who loved the good
Last Line: He was thy brother, and was mine!
Subject(s): Brotherhood; Conduct Of Life; Forgiveness


A MAN he was who loved the good,
Yet strayed in crooked ways apart;
He could not do the thing he would,
Because of evil in his heart.

He saw men garner wealth and fame,
Ripe in due time, a precious load;
He fainted ere the harvest came,
And failed to gather what he sowed.

He looked if haply grapes had grown
On the wild thorns that choked his vines;
When clear the truth before him shone
He sought for wonders and for signs.

Others Faith's sheltered harbor found,
The while his bark was tossed about;
Drifting and dragging anchor round
The troubled, shoreless sea of doubt.

Where he would win, he could not choose
But yield to weakness and despair;
He ran as they who fear to lose,
And fought as one who beats the air.

Walking where hosts of souls have passed,
By faith and hope made strong and brave,
He, groping, stumbled at the last,
And blindly fell across the grave.

Yet speak of him in charity,
O man! nor write of blame one line;
Say that thou wert not such as he --
He was thy brother, and was mine!





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