Poems: Second Series (Dickinson)/The Preacher

by Emily Dickinson

For works with similar titles, see The Preacher.

XXXVIII.

THE PREACHER.

HE preached upon "breadth" till it argued him narrow,—
The broad are too broad to define;
And of "truth" until it proclaimed him a liar,—
The truth never flaunted a sign.

Simplicity fled from his counterfeit presence
As gold the pyrites would shun.
What confusion would cover the innocent Jesus
To meet so enabled a man!