Life and Phantasy by William Allingham: With frontispiece by Sir John E. Millais: A design by Arthur H. Hughes and a song for voice and piano forte |
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MEA CULPA. |
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 | Life and Phantasy |  |
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MEA CULPA.
I
At me one night the angry moon,Suspended to a rim of cloud,
Glared through the courses of the wind.
Suddenly then my spirit bow'd
And shrank into a fearful swoon
That made me deaf and blind.
II
We sinn'd—we sin—is that a dream?We wake—there is no voice nor stir;
Sin and repent from day to day,
As though some reeking murderer
Should dip his hand in a running stream,
And lightly go his way.
III
Embrace me, fiends and wicked men,For I am of your crew. Draw back,
Pure women, children with clear eyes
Let Scorn confess me on his rack,—
Stretch'd down by force, uplooking then
Into the solemn skies.
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IV
Singly we pass the gloomy gate;Some robed in honour, full of peace,
Who of themselves are not aware,
Being fed with secret wickedness,
And comforted with lies: my fate
Moves fast; I shall come there.
V
With all so usual, hour by hour,And feeble will so lightly twirl'd
By every little breeze of sense,—
Lay'st thou to heart this common world?
Lay'st thou to heart the Ruling Power,
Just, infinite, intense?
VI
Thou wilt not frown, O God. Yet weEscape not thy transcendent law;
It reigns within us and without.
What earthly vision never saw
Man's naked soul may suddenly see,
Dreadful, past thought or doubt.
| Life and Phantasy | |