Forgiveness

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h2>FORGIVENESS</h2> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">At dusk the window panes grew grey;<br/></span> <span class="i0">The wet world vanished in the gloom;<br/></span> <span class="i0">The dim and silver end of day<br/></span> <span class="i0">Scarce glimmered through the little room.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">And all my sins were told; I said<br/></span> <span class="i0">Such things to her who knew not sin&mdash;<br/></span> <span class="i0">The sharp ache throbbing in my head,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The fever running high within.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">I touched with pain her purity;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Sin's darker sense I could not bring:<br/></span> <span class="i0">My soul was black as night to me:<br/></span> <span class="i0">To her I was a wounded thing.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">I needed love no words could say;<br/></span> <span class="i0">She drew me softly nigh her chair,<br/></span> <span class="i0">My head upon her knees to lay,<br/></span> <span class="i0">With cool hands that caressed my hair.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">She sat with hands as if to bless,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And looked with grave, ethereal eyes;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Ensouled by ancient quietness,<br/></span> <span class="i0">A gentle priestess of the Wise.<br/></span></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />