JUSTIFICATION

From far-off it came near

Deep-charactered and clear,

Until I saw the features close to mine

And the eyes unhappy shine.

It was Sorrow's face,

Wanting kindness and grace,

And wanting strength of silence, and the power

To abide a luckier hour.

The first fear turned to hating

As I saw him dumbly waiting,

For it was my true likeness that he wore

And would wear evermore:—

My face that was to be

When his years’ misery

With here a little and there a little had made

My strong spirit afraid.

I saw his face and hated,

Seeing mine so sad-fated.

And then I struck and killed him, knowing that he

Had else slain me.