Page:Poems (1915) G K Chesterton.djvu/49



OW that I kneel at the throne, O Queen,

Pity and pardon me.

Much have I striven to sing the same,

Brother of beast and tree;

Yet vhen the stars catch me alone

Never a linnet sings—

And the blood of a man is a bitter voice

And cries for foolish things.

Not for me be the vaunt of woe;

Was not I from a boy

Vowed with the helmet and spear and spur

To the blood-red banner of joy?

A man may sing his psalms to a stone,

Pour his blood for a weed,

But the tears of a man are a sudden thing,

And come not of his creed.

Nay, but the earth is kind to me,

Though I cry for a star,

Leaves and grasses, feather and flower,

Cover the foolish scar,

Prophets and saints and seraphim

Lighten the load with song,

And the heart of a man is a heavy load

For a man to bear along.