THE INN OF LIFE

“No room!

No room!

The Inn is full,

Yea — overfull.

No room have we for such as ye —

Poor folk of Galilee,

Pass on! Pass on!”

“Nay then!—

Your charity

Will ne'er deny

Some corner mean,

Where she may lie unseen.

For see!—

Her time is nigh.”

“Alack! And she

So young and fair!

Place have we none;

And yet — how bid ye gone?

Stay then!— out there

Among the beasts

Ye may find room,

And eke a truss

To lie upon.”

“No room!

No room!

No room for Thee,

Thou Man of Galilee!

The house is full,

Yea, overfull.

There is no room for Thee,—

Pass on! Pass on!

Nay — see!

The place is packed.

“We scarce have room

For our own selves,

So how shall we

Find room for Thee,

Thou Man of Galilee,—

Pass on! Pass on!

But — if Thou shouldst

This way again,

And we can find

So much as one small corner

Free from guest,

Not then in vain

Thy quest.

But now —

The house is full.

Pass on!”

Christ passes

On His ceaseless quest,

Nor will He rest

With any,

Save as Chiefest Guest.