Letters from Mesopotamia by Robert Palmer
page 3 of 150 (02%)
page 3 of 150 (02%)
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So clear before him he could feel no hate,
No passion was aroused by what he saw, But only pity. And he put all fear Away from him, terming it the offspring Of an unruly mind. Like some strong man Whom pygmies in his sleep have bound with threads Of twisted cobweb, and he to their plan Is captive while he sleeps, but quickly shreds His bonds when he awakes and sees the thing That they have bound him with. His faith and will Purged all evil passions from his mind, And left there one great overmastering love For all his fellows. War taught him to find That peace, for which at other times he strove In vain, and new-found friendship did fulfil His thoughts with happiness. Such was the soul That he perfected, ready for the call Of his dear Master (should it to him come), Scornful of death's terrors, yet withal Loath to leave this life, while still was some Part of the work he dreamed undone, his goal As yet unreached. There was for such an one A different work among those given, Who've crossed the border of eternity In youthful heedlessness,--as unshriven Naked souls joined the great fraternity |
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