Thomas Hardy — The Bedridden Peasant To An Unknowing God

Much wonder I—here long low-laid -         That this dead wall should be Betwixt the Maker and the made,         Between Thyself and me! For, say one puts a child to nurse,         He eyes it now and then To know if better 'tis, or worse,         And if it mourn, and when. But Thou, Lord, giv'st us men our clay         In helpless bondage thus To Time and Chance, and seem'st straightway         To think no more of us! That some disaster cleft Thy scheme         And tore us wide apart, So that no cry can cross, I deem;         For Thou art mild of heart, And would'st not shape and shut us in         Where voice can not he heard: 'Tis plain Thou meant'st that we should win         Thy succour by a word. Might but Thy sense flash down the skies         Like man's from clime to clime, Thou would'st not let me agonize         Through my remaining time; But, seeing how much Thy creatures bear -         Lame, starved, or maimed, or blind - Thou'dst heal the ills with quickest care         Of me and all my kind. Then, since Thou mak'st not these things be,         But these things dost not know, I'll praise Thee as were shown to me         The mercies Thou would'st show!