Page:Poems Jackson.djvu/146

"ALMS AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE."

H, how shall we, lame from the mother's womb,
The temple enter! Beautiful in vain
For us, the gate, where we, in double pain,
Of suffering and of loss, can find no room;
Whose whiteness only makes our outer gloom
The blacker, and whose shining steps, more plain
Than words, mock cripples weeping to attain
The inner courts, where censers, sweet perfume,
And music fill the air!
And music fill the air!O sinful fear!
Dare not to doubt. Our helplessness laid near
That gate, is safe; our faith without alarms
Can wait; the good apostles will appear;
Our crippled beggary, made rich by alms
Of God, shall leap and praise, in grateful psalms.

CORONATION.

T the king's gate the subtle noon
 Wove filmy yellow nets of sun;
Into the drowsy snare too soon
 The guards fell one by one.

Through the king's gate, unquestioned then,
 A beggar went, and laughed, "This brings
Me chance, at last, to see if men
 Fare better, being kings."