CENSORSHIP by JOHN COWPER POWYS

The twisted hearts, the crumpled brains,
The broken spirits of us all,
How could they tolerate life's pains
If the quips and the nods
And the mocks at the gods,
And the wicked smiles
And the wanton wiles,
Which make things even,
Were censored on earth as well as in heaven?

We are all condemned, as the deep tide rolls:
A prayer or a kiss --
'Tis hit or miss.
The goldenest lover
The earth must cover
Along with the fool
Who holds life a school
For hammering noble souls.

Let us be kind to one another then;
And remembering we are men
Of one stuff spun,
Make of our miching-mallecho
A cowslip-ball to toss and throw
At the moon or the sun!

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