Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHARITY THE DAUGHTER OF HUMILITY, by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE



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CHARITY THE DAUGHTER OF HUMILITY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Gently I took that which ungently came
Last Line: Give him the rotten timber for his pains!
Variant Title(s): Forbearance
Subject(s): Bible; Religion; Theology


Beareth all things.
I Cor. xiii, 7

GENTLY I took that which ungently came,
And without scorn forgave: -- Do thou the same.
A wrong done to thee think a cat's-eye spark
Thou wouldst not see, were not thine own heart dark.
Thine own keen sense of wrong that thirsts for sin,
Fear that -- the spark self-kindled from within,
Which blown upon will blind thee with its glare,
Or smothered stifle thee with noisome air.
Clap on the extinguisher, pull up the blinds,
And soon the ventilated spirit finds
Its natural daylight. If a foe have kenned,
Or worse than foe, an alienated friend,
A rib of dry rot in thy ship's stout side,
Think it God's message, and in humble pride
With heart of oak replace it; -- thine the gains --
Give him the rotten timber for his pains!





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