Are these Thy children, Lord, this criminal row, Who in the crowded court their sentence wait, Straining to hear the judge pronounce their fate, And laugh or scowl or deep indifference show? Their prison days, -- that fear is all they know -- Imprisoned souls unheeding their fixed state; Poor, sensual faces, weak and passionate, A mark of Cain, foredoomed to crime each brow. Ah no! Our crimes are not in birth's decree; Our evil deeds are not the fruit full-grown Of seedling sins set out in infancy. We are not blown about as leaves are blown; For our temptations tell us we are free, -- Thy children, God, since we a choice are shown. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NAPOLEON AND THE BRITISH [OR ENGLISH] SAILOR [BOY] by THOMAS CAMPBELL THE BELEAGUERED CITY by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW WINTER HEAVENS by GEORGE MEREDITH GIVE ME THY HEART by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER THE OWL (1) by ALFRED TENNYSON OF HIS CONVERSION by WILLIAM ALABASTER SHIPS AT SUNSET by STANLEY E. BABB |