Poem by Richard Watson Gilder

The Celestial Passion. Part 2. 8. “Despise not thou”

Despise not thou thy father's ancient creed;
⁠Of his pure life it was the golden thread
⁠Whereon bright days were gathered, bead by bead,
⁠Till death laid low that dear and reverend head.
From olden faith how many a glorious deed
⁠Hath lit the world; its blood-stained banner led
⁠The martyrs heavenward; yea, it was the seed
⁠Of knowledge, whence our modern freedom spread.
Not always has man's credo proved a snare—
⁠But a deliverance, a sign, a flame
⁠To purify the dense and pestilent air,
Writing on pitiless heavens one pitying name;
⁠And 'neath the shadow of the dread eclipse
⁠It shines on dying eyes and pallid lips. 

1. The New Day. Part 4. 17. “He Knows Not the Path of Duty”
2. The New Day. Part 3. 19. Thistle-Down
3. The Celestial Passion. Part 2. 4. Cost
4. The New Day. Part 3. 12. Denial
5. The New Day. Part 4. 4. Song (Not from the whole wide world I chose thee)

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