Can a Man Lose Faith
Can a man lose faith and find it again
By slinking from wolves and idolaters?
And if wrong twice is he branded traitor
With your iron, once here, once there, without end?
I have escaped, crawling on bloody hands.
But do I creep down Iscariot's trail
To the Pardoner's tree where all men fail?
O King! I beseech thee; bring to this man
Sunlight, mercy, truth, while I bear this pain.
What use is this blood, O King! and these eyes?
Whip me if you like, but remove the lies;
Lift my soul, strike the Spirit through my veins.
Do I see a dove upward yonder path
Untouched by ravens choking on your wrath?