THE CONFESSIONAL
By Helen Parry Eden
My Sorrow diligent would sweepThat dingy room infestWith dust (thereby I mean my soul)Because she hath a GuestWho doth require that self-same roomBe garnished for His rest.And Sorrow (who had washed His feetWhere He before had been)Took the long broom of MemoryAnd swept the corners clean,Till in the midst of the fair floorThe sum of dust was seen.It lay there, settled by her tears,That fell the while she swept—Light fluffs of grey and earthly dregs;And over these she wept,For all were come since last her GuestWithin the room had slept.
My Sorrow diligent would sweepThat dingy room infestWith dust (thereby I mean my soul)Because she hath a GuestWho doth require that self-same roomBe garnished for His rest.And Sorrow (who had washed His feetWhere He before had been)Took the long broom of MemoryAnd swept the corners clean,Till in the midst of the fair floorThe sum of dust was seen.It lay there, settled by her tears,That fell the while she swept—Light fluffs of grey and earthly dregs;And over these she wept,For all were come since last her GuestWithin the room had slept.
My Sorrow diligent would sweepThat dingy room infestWith dust (thereby I mean my soul)Because she hath a GuestWho doth require that self-same roomBe garnished for His rest.
My Sorrow diligent would sweep
That dingy room infest
With dust (thereby I mean my soul)
Because she hath a Guest
Who doth require that self-same room
Be garnished for His rest.
And Sorrow (who had washed His feetWhere He before had been)Took the long broom of MemoryAnd swept the corners clean,Till in the midst of the fair floorThe sum of dust was seen.
And Sorrow (who had washed His feet
Where He before had been)
Took the long broom of Memory
And swept the corners clean,
Till in the midst of the fair floor
The sum of dust was seen.
It lay there, settled by her tears,That fell the while she swept—Light fluffs of grey and earthly dregs;And over these she wept,For all were come since last her GuestWithin the room had slept.
It lay there, settled by her tears,
That fell the while she swept—
Light fluffs of grey and earthly dregs;
And over these she wept,
For all were come since last her Guest
Within the room had slept.
And, for nor broom nor tears had powerTo lift the clods of ill,She called one servant of her GuestWho came with right good will,For, by his sweet Lord’s bidding, heWaiteth on Sorrow still;So, seeing she had done her partAs far as in her layAnd had intent to keep the placeMore cleanly from that day,Did with his Master’s dust-pan comeAnd take the dust away.She thanked him, and Him who sentSuch succor, and she spreadFair sheets of Thankfulness and LoveUpon her Master’s bed,Then on the new-scoured threshold stoodAnd listened for His tread.
And, for nor broom nor tears had powerTo lift the clods of ill,She called one servant of her GuestWho came with right good will,For, by his sweet Lord’s bidding, heWaiteth on Sorrow still;So, seeing she had done her partAs far as in her layAnd had intent to keep the placeMore cleanly from that day,Did with his Master’s dust-pan comeAnd take the dust away.She thanked him, and Him who sentSuch succor, and she spreadFair sheets of Thankfulness and LoveUpon her Master’s bed,Then on the new-scoured threshold stoodAnd listened for His tread.
And, for nor broom nor tears had powerTo lift the clods of ill,She called one servant of her GuestWho came with right good will,For, by his sweet Lord’s bidding, heWaiteth on Sorrow still;
And, for nor broom nor tears had power
To lift the clods of ill,
She called one servant of her Guest
Who came with right good will,
For, by his sweet Lord’s bidding, he
Waiteth on Sorrow still;
So, seeing she had done her partAs far as in her layAnd had intent to keep the placeMore cleanly from that day,Did with his Master’s dust-pan comeAnd take the dust away.
So, seeing she had done her part
As far as in her lay
And had intent to keep the place
More cleanly from that day,
Did with his Master’s dust-pan come
And take the dust away.
She thanked him, and Him who sentSuch succor, and she spreadFair sheets of Thankfulness and LoveUpon her Master’s bed,Then on the new-scoured threshold stoodAnd listened for His tread.
She thanked him, and Him who sent
Such succor, and she spread
Fair sheets of Thankfulness and Love
Upon her Master’s bed,
Then on the new-scoured threshold stood
And listened for His tread.