He lay on the beach, just out of the reach...

He lay on the beach, just out of the reach

Of waves that had cast him by:

With fingers grim they reached for him

As often as they came nigh.

The shore-face brown had a surly frown,

And glanced at the dancing sea,

As if to say, “Take back the clay

You tossed this morning at me.”

Great fragments rude, by the shipwreck strewed,

Had found by this wreck a place;

He had grasped them tight, and hope-strewn fright

Sat still on the bloated face.

Battered and bruised, forever abused,

He lay by the heartless sea,

As if Heaven's aid had never been made

For a villain such as he.

The fetter's mark lay heavy and dark

Around the pulseless wrists;

The hardened scar of many a war

Clung yet to the drooping fists.

The soul's disgrace across that face

Had built an iron track;

The half-healed gash of the jailman's lash

Helped cover the brawny back.

The blood that flowed in a crimson road

From a deep wound in his head

Had felt fierce pangs from the poison-fangs

Of those who his young life fed:

Cursed from the very beginning

With deeds that others had done,

“More sinned against than sinning” —

And so is every one!

He had never learned save what had turned

The steps of his life amiss;

He never knew a hand-grasp true,

Or the thrill of a virtuous kiss.

‘ Twas poured like a flood through his young blood,

And poisoned every vein,

That wrong is right, that law is spite,

And theft but honest gain.

The seeds were grown that had long been sown

By the heart of a murderous sire:

Disease and shame, and blood aflame

With thirst for the founts of fire.

Battered and bruised, forever abused,

He lay by the moaning sea,

As if Heaven's aid were even afraid

Of a villain such as he.

As he lay alone, like a sparrow prone,

An angel wandered nigh:

A look she cast over that dark past,

And tears came to her eye.

She bent by the dead, and tenderly said:

“Poor child, you went astray;

Your heart and mind were both born blind —

No wonder they lost their way!

Angels, I know, had fallen as low

With such a dismal chance.

Your heart was ironed, your soul environed,

You were barred of all advance!

Cursed from the very beginning

With deeds that others have done,

‘ More sinned against than sinning’ —

And so is every one!”