A LITANY

For what we to ourselves have done,

We who are miracles divine,

Flares from a universal sun,

Or lees from an Olympian wine;

For the abuse of laughter,

And tears that follow after;

For love betrayed, and hope delayed:

Cry we mercy, God!

For what we to ourselves have said:

“Thou hast much goods; peace, O my Soul,

Nor fret if beggars cry for bread,

And show their rags in hope of dole.

God giveth thee much pleasure,

Want is the poor man's measure!”

For all of these dark heresies:

Cry we mercy, God!

For what we on ourselves have wrought —

Wild havoc with the weird, grotesque,

Abortive images of thought,

Making of beauty the burlesque;

For much pretence in praying;

And little heart at playing;

For smothered smiles and countless guiles:

Cry we mercy, God!

For casting dice where Jesus bleeds

Upon His cross, naked, alone;

Unheedful in the noise of creeds

Of Him and His last dying moan;

For Rahab robed in scarlet,

Cursed with the title, “Harlot,”

By the decrees of Pharisees:

Cry we mercy, God!

For the delight of out-of-doors

Missed in our minsters made of stone,

Unmindful that pure incense pours

To Thee from wild rose-petals blown

Down forest-aisles; that altar fires

Burn in the sunset on the hills,

And from the pine-wood's ancient spires

The varied chime of evening fills

All hearts with rapture; for the light

Lost on white lilies, and the blue

Of heaven wasted, the dear night

With her gold stars and silver dew

Neglected. Oh, for what we fail

To find from life so rich and fair —

The rain, the snow, the sleet, the hail,

Summer, and blossom-breathing air;

For every useless sorrow,

And fears for the to-morrow,

Not knowing Thee, great Deity:

Cry we mercy, God!