4573239Poems — Forgive MeAlice Emily Argent

FORGIVE ME.
"Teach us to love and to forgive."

IF I have grieved you, dear, to-day,
If I have vexed you any way,
Oh! if you hope for highest.heaven
Forgive as you would be forgiven.

If I have caused a tear to start
From the sealed fountains of the heart,
And thoughtlessly by word or deed
Passed by your spirit's inmost need:

If I have wounded you full sore
I crave your pardon o'er and o'er,
For careless speech and random jest
That placed the arrow in your breast.

And yet you know for old love's sake
The human heart long time will ache,
Much to forbear in thought and mind
In every friendship we shall find.

Each morning with its wealth of light,
Each evening with its starry night,
The passing clouds have swept to clear
The mists from off the atmosphere.

And thus the skies of human love
Are sometimes dark as those above,
But yet we know, beyond, the light
Is shining somewhere out of sight.

And so you must through every ill
Believe that I do love you still,
And as you pray for God and heaven
Forgive, as you would be forgiven!