Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SIN OF OMISSION, by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER Poet's Biography First Line: It isn't the thing you do, dear Last Line: At the setting of the sun. Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs. Variant Title(s): At Sunset Subject(s): Religion; Sin; Theology | ||||||||
IT ISN'T the thing you do, dear, It's the thing you leave undone That gives you a bit of a heartache At setting of the sun. The tender word forgotten, The letter you did not write, The flowers you did not send, dear, Are your haunting ghosts at night. The stone you might have lifted Out of a brother's way; The bit of heartsome counsel You were hurried too much to say; The loving touch of the hand, dear, The gentle, winning tone Which you had no time nor thought for With troubles enough of your own. Those little acts of kindness So easily out of mind, Those chances to be angels Which we poor mortals find -- They come in night and silence, Each sad, reproachful wraith, When hope is faint and flagging, And a chill has fallen on faith. For life is all too short, dear, And sorrow is all too great, To suffer our slow compassion That tarries until too late; And it isn't the thing you do, dear, It's the thing you leave undone Which gives you a bit of a heartache At the setting of the sun. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY ARE THE CHILDREN AT HOME? by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER |
|