A NEW THANKSGIVING
For war, plague, pestilence, flood, famine, fire,
For Christ discrowned, for false gods set on high;
For fools, whose hands must have their hearts' desire,
We thank Thee –- in the darkness –- and so die.
For shipwreck: Oh, the sob of strangling seas! –-
No matter. For the snake that charms the dove;
And (is it not the bitterest of all these?)
We thank Thee –- in our blind faith –- even for Love.
For breaking hearts; for all that breaks the heart;
For Death, the one thing after all the rest,
We thank Thee, O our Father! Thou who art,
And wast, and shalt be -- knowing these are best.
For war, plague, pestilence, flood, famine, fire,
For Christ discrowned, for false gods set on high;
For fools, whose hands must have their hearts' desire,
We thank Thee –- in the darkness –- and so die.
For shipwreck: Oh, the sob of strangling seas! –-
No matter. For the snake that charms the dove;
And (is it not the bitterest of all these?)
We thank Thee –- in our blind faith –- even for Love.
For breaking hearts; for all that breaks the heart;
For Death, the one thing after all the rest,
We thank Thee, O our Father! Thou who art,
And wast, and shalt be -- knowing these are best.