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PENITENCE.
151
Because I struck at others in my pain,
Like some wild beast that, wounded, turns at bay,
And rends the innocent earth he stands upon —
O Lord, I do repent.
Because I was impatient, would not wait,
But thrust mine impious hand across Thy threads.
And marred the pattern drawn out for my life —
O Lord, I do repent.
Because I called good evil, evil good,
And thought I, ignorant, knew many things,
And deemed my weight of folly weight of wit—
O Lord, I do repent.
Because Thou hast borne with me all this while,
Hast smitten me with love until I weep,
Hast called me, as a mother calls her child —
O Lord, I do repent.
