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PENITENCE.
BECAUSE I knew not when my life was good
And when there was a light upon my path,
But turned my soul perversely to the dark —
O Lord, I do repent.
Because I held upon my selfish road,
And left my brother wounded by the way,
And called ambition duty, and pressed on —
O Lord, I do repent.
Because I spent the strength Thou gavest me,
In struggle which Thou never didst ordain,
And have but dregs of life to offer Thee —
O Lord, I do repent.
Because I chose the thorns and 'plained for flowers,
And pressed the sword-points down upon my heart,
And moaned that they did hurt me, like a child —
O Lord, I do repent.
