October 15 to 31

An Epitaph

Beneath this stone lies one good man; and when

We say his kindly thought towards all men

Was as generous to the living as to the dead-

What more for any mortal could be said?

His only enemies were those he tried

To help, and failed; who blamed him, in their pride,

Forgetting his power was not as great

As his intention- and their own weak state.

And if he met with men too slow to move

Into the fullness of his own clear love,

He looked for the fault in his own self, and not

Blamed other men- like our more common lot.

His boundless trust and innocence of evil

Tempted the base and mean, and helped the devil.

Since such a man, without suspicion, kind,

Was duped by many a false, ungrateful mind,

He’s gone to Heaven-because he lived so well

That many a wretch through him has gone to hell.