 | The Poems of Selwyn Image |  |
89
“INTO THE TEMPLE TO PRAY”
I
One came, knelt, made obeisance, gave heaven praise
For the rare gifts that ranged him far apart
From meaner lives, that throng
The market-haunts of earth.
For the rare gifts that ranged him far apart
From meaner lives, that throng
The market-haunts of earth.
Say, was it false self-witness? leaped a lie
From conscious heart by conscious lips expressed,
Thinking to cheat the gods
As mortals we may cheat?
From conscious heart by conscious lips expressed,
Thinking to cheat the gods
As mortals we may cheat?
A world too oft censorious held him high,
Praised his least effort with intent acclaim:
Say, who shall arraign that judge,
Keen-visioned, fearless, firm?
Praised his least effort with intent acclaim:
Say, who shall arraign that judge,
Keen-visioned, fearless, firm?
II
One came, paused, smote his breast in silence, felt
How vain heaven's will did all prove poor as he
In life's endeavour, deed:
He dare not dream it so.
How vain heaven's will did all prove poor as he
In life's endeavour, deed:
He dare not dream it so.
Scarce audible a sigh then rent his soul—
“Be merciful! a sinner! O my God!”—
Then turned he, and went as erst
On to his daily toil:
“Be merciful! a sinner! O my God!”—
Then turned he, and went as erst
On to his daily toil:
“A man i' the street,” so runs the current phrase,
Unmarked, unmarkable, as thousands: yet
Not in the Master's eye
Worthless for His design.
Unmarked, unmarkable, as thousands: yet
Not in the Master's eye
Worthless for His design.
May 6th, 1920.
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