Needs Would Give

I’ve seen it in

The shadow form

That hides behind

The darkened screen,

That such of love

They saw you through

Brought only scattered

Seeds of pain.

 

Your planets tilted

At the tithe,

While conscience turned

Your grace to guilt,

The shadow at

Your shoulder seemed

To darken every

Need you spilt.

 

And every need

And every rule

Has turned your fevered

Search aside,

While bitter seeds

Took root and grew

To spare what pain

You still denied.

 

And now you cling

To some distress

That bitter tongues

Have dredged in spite,

While all your grace

Is sold for less

Than needs would give…

Some long night!

 

David Lewis Paget