Poem by Edith Nesbit

The Day of Judgment

   WHEN the bearing and doing are over,
      And no more is to do or bear,
   God will see us and judge us
      The kind of men we were;
   And our sins, so ugly and heavy,
      We shall drag them into His sight,
   And throw them down at the foot of the throne,
      Foul on the steps of light.

   We shall not be shamed or frightened,
      Though the angels are all at hand,
   For He will look at our burden,
      And He will understand.
   He will turn to the little angels,
      Agog to hear and obey,
   And point to the festering sin-loads
      With, “Take that rubbish away!”

   Then the steps will be cleared of the burdens
      That we threw down at His feet;
   And we shall be washed in the tears of Christ,
      And our tears bathe His feet.
   And the harvest of all our sinning
      That moment’s shame will reap—
   When we look in the eyes that love us
      And know we have made them weep.

1. Love and Knowledge
2. The Stolen God
3. To One Who Pleaded for Candour in Love
4. A Last Appeal
5. The Kiss

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