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Blackberries

by William Allingham
Allingham, William (1824-1889)
 
[epigraph]
 
[dedication]

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[Ill folk I shun, or fight against: what can]
 
[The woe of the False Teacher—This]
 
[Shame upon those who poison youth]
 
To Certain Persons calling themselves “Christians.”
 
[If you believed, loud Sir, some decent part]
 
[Would'st argue upon equal terms with me?]
 
[“An infidel!” you shout: I have, 'tis true]
 
[Is it right, on a solemn day]
 
[O wretched man! who, while his soul is green]
 
[Clergy to guide poor us are given]
 
[In sacred reverie and sublime delight]
 
[The Wisest Living Mortal—Oh]
 
[As rafter rafter serves to prop]
 
[Every word your Oracle saith]
 
[Assuredly, God's word is true]
 
[Ostrichio's soul's digestion is so good]
 
[Peter's a madman, John agrees]
 
[How mysteries attract!]
 
[What do your dogmas? Mix dispute and doubt]
 
[Great Saint, how we've misused thy fame]
 
To a Controversialist.
 
[The modern plea for keeping up a Creed—]
 
[We don't believe it: but let it be.]
 
['Twere well, in sooth]
 
[Fain would I seek the City of Truth]
 
[I believe without bother]
 
[We hate thee, solemn Public Liar]
 
[Young Mother, with thy babe at rest]
 
[Yea, Raffael! Michael Angelo! your hands]
 
A Dream.
 
Another Dream.
 
[Dogmatic Christians, one and all]
 
[All “Christian virtues” I rejoice to greet.]
 
[“Art Faith's Apostle? Can'st thou save us?”—No.]
 
[A pseudo-religion suits most people best]
 
[This World is made to no man's mind]
 
[Remember this, Lover of truth and right]
 
[“If you shake these dogmas you shake morality with them.” Yea.]
 
[Religion—what a labyrinthine mesh!]
 
[The New Religion will include]
 
[Long time amongst the thorns I dwelt]
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[We hate thee, solemn Public Liar]

We hate thee, solemn Public Liar,
Who all men's reverence dost require.
We know thine ancient mystery
Hath now become a tatter'd lie,
Dishonouring the Power Divine
That in our Human Soul doth shine.
Man's highest thought thou dost withdraw
From building on true natural law
His joy and worship, love and awe,
Training and forcing it to fix
On foolish mental juggling-tricks;
Hoping a tawdry Heav'n to gain
By gambling and by legerdemain.
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