Page:Poems of Emma Lazarus vol 2.djvu/202

He passes into nothingness, like smoke.
Then spare him, punish not, be kind, I pray,
To him who dwelleth in the dust, an image wrought in clay !

Almighty ! what is man ?
A withered bough !
When he is awe-struck by approaching doom,
like a dried blade of grass, so weak, so low
The pleasure of his life is changed to gloom.
He crumbles like a garment spoiled with moth ;
According to his sins wilt thou be wroth ?
He melts like wax before the candle's breath.
Yea, like thin water, so he vanisheth.
Oh, spare him therefore, for thy gracious name.
And be not too severe upon his shame !

Almighty ! what is man ?
A faded leaf !
If thou dost weigh him in the balance — lo !
He disappears — a breath that thou dost blow.
His heart is ever filled
With lust of lies unstilled.
Wilt thou bear in mind his crime
Unto all time ?
He fades away like clouds sun-kissed.
Dissolves like mist.
Then spare him ! let him love and mercy win.
According to thy grace, and not according to his sin!