 | The Comrades |  |
206
The Door in Heaven
“Oh Lord, Thy child who went astray
Comes weeping back to Thee once more;
I see him hastening on his way;
How shall I greet him?” “Close the door;
Comes weeping back to Thee once more;
I see him hastening on his way;
How shall I greet him?” “Close the door;
“Yea, close it ruthless in his face,
With clash and clang of bolts within!
There let him beat, and plead for grace,
Till he has purged away his sin.”
With clash and clang of bolts within!
There let him beat, and plead for grace,
Till he has purged away his sin.”
“Oh Lord, thy child who twice has sinned
Comes slowly back, with broken cries
Blown down the outer dark and wind;
Far off, he dares not lift his eyes.
Comes slowly back, with broken cries
Blown down the outer dark and wind;
Far off, he dares not lift his eyes.
207
“What wilt Thou?” “Set the door ajar,
And let a lamp shine, fixed and clear,
Thro' dark and anguish, like a star,
To give him courage to draw near.”
And let a lamp shine, fixed and clear,
Thro' dark and anguish, like a star,
To give him courage to draw near.”
“Lord God, dost Thou remember still
Him who thrice laughed Thy love to scorn
Thro' years of shame and nameless ill?
Now comes he naked and forlorn.
Him who thrice laughed Thy love to scorn
Thro' years of shame and nameless ill?
Now comes he naked and forlorn.
“Now that his evil day is done,
To Thee he turns, who scoffed of yore.
What wilt Thou, Lord, with such a one?
Shall not Thy saints make fast the door?”
To Thee he turns, who scoffed of yore.
What wilt Thou, Lord, with such a one?
Shall not Thy saints make fast the door?”
“Make fast the door? Nay, set it wide!
Nay, pluck it wholly from the hinge!
So shall heaven's glory hell deride,
And all the outer darkness tinge
Nay, pluck it wholly from the hinge!
So shall heaven's glory hell deride,
And all the outer darkness tinge
“With radiant pulse from pole to pole,
And mercy from the Mercy-seat
Stream out and clothe this naked soul,
And flowers break up beneath his feet.”
And mercy from the Mercy-seat
Stream out and clothe this naked soul,
And flowers break up beneath his feet.”
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