 | The Collected Poems of T. W. H. Crosland |  |
136
Towards the Reckoning
With tongue of oil and breath of myrrh
They bid us turn the other cheek,
And mark the blessing for the meek,
The mourner and the peacemaker.
They bid us turn the other cheek,
And mark the blessing for the meek,
The mourner and the peacemaker.
They counsel, “Love your enemies;
Do good to them who bear you hate;
Agree thou quickly!” and they prate
Of being, with the great wisdom, wise.
Do good to them who bear you hate;
Agree thou quickly!” and they prate
Of being, with the great wisdom, wise.
“Of Eye for Eye and Tooth for Tooth
None righteously exacts the debt;
It is forbidden!” they say—and yet
They publish only half the truth.
None righteously exacts the debt;
It is forbidden!” they say—and yet
They publish only half the truth.
And by their speech the grinning Host
Which hath Blasphemed takes lease to live. . . .
Harden our hearts, lest we forgive
The Sin against the Holy Ghost!
Which hath Blasphemed takes lease to live. . . .
Harden our hearts, lest we forgive
The Sin against the Holy Ghost!
| The Collected Poems of T. W. H. Crosland | |