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The World
Born in innocence what can we know,
We seem made to wander,
Reaching out, clutching at happy show,
From the first virtue is squandered.
What happened, before our time began,
How could we be shy of grace,
But that, long ago, someone ran
off course, from the intended race.
Who were they, who knows,
Does it matter if they had names,
Something is dreadfully wrong and shows
in accusations, sin, selfishness, disdains.
Man to man of all the world fetters,
Opposes and kills even his own,
Animals themselves without souls man betters,
Why don't we consider what can be known?
Nature is Peaceful all around,
Conspicuous is God's intended design,
Flowers unfold, birds on the wing,
predators stalk, while prey feels resign.
The prince of this world has darkness as crew,
We will never be able to forget it,
Causing life's ship's sails to flutter askew
Without change we all will regret it.
Man alone stands as master of all,
Though every wind alters his intended good,
Lord of the world, but not since that Fall,
Good doesn't matter now as it should.
For somewhere men have forgotten God,
Virtue without discipline fails,
The world now His master is very odd,
With man's ship sinking under folded sails.
So discern what you have to learn,
Under perseverance in prayer and piety,
Self control to put power in the stern,
Virtue to guide and true Faith to be.
Then the world won't pose a threat,
though its waters still always rough,
For virtue powers sails without regret,
Lifting love to God and to the world rebuff.
Men need to forgive, wherever they live,
all that is done against them,
That winds may show through virtue strong,
Swift, smooth sailing souls as anthem.
Christian friends are allies in God.
Against a world murderous and sleazy,
They guide, share, and support holy things,
Making virtue and prayer easy!
Brother Not, sfo
March, 1994
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...weaving a crown of thorns,