He don't come 'cause he's in trouble.
Thank you, God. He ain't to blame.'"


16

Long before her honest story
Faltered to its hallowed close,
Pushing back his untouched supper,
Tremblingly her guest arose.
Vain for him to curb emotion,
Or to stammer out his praise
Through a storm of rude devotion,
Cast in halting human phrase.
Vain for him to frame a message
Never meant for words to tell,
At the joy of reaching heaven
By that trail that led through hell.
But his fervent benediction
Was a passionate embrace,
And the Amen love's own ending,
As he kissed her fearless face.