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

184 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!