Page:Poems, Volume 2, Coates, 1916.djvu/143

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THE CHERUBIM
127

But the other angel sighed, as lone
The heavenly way he trod,
And came at last to the awful throne,
And fell at the feet of God.


Then spake God's voice:—"What earth-born grief
Dims radiance such as thine?"
The angel sighed:—"I beg relief
For woes that are not mine!—
I plead for them that exiled live.
If grace be of Thy plan,
Have mercy!—ah, have mercy! Give
Some comfort, Lord, to Man!"


The fearful angel waited: came
Long silence, then the Voice:—
"Love cannot take from wrong its blame:
Man's woes are of Man's choice;
Yet do thou bear—thy pity's price—
To them that outcast grope
This last, best gift of Paradise—
This key whose name is Hope!"