IF ONLY

40. IF ONLY

 

Wonder why we seek you here

We so morose and void of cheer?

Each bearing scars he wore in Time

Not seen since in Heaven sublime

 (For such a sight were they to see

An aching world of misery

Rank on rank of lame and blind

Host on host of sickly child

A few of these did cough up blood

As if earth’s tears were still in flood)

 

See us approach your peaceful reefs

Display again all our past griefs

We who form so great a host

Of those who in life who suffered most

Don’t skulk away, heed our complaint!

In hearing us, you’ll not grow faint

Bear briefly with our scars and pain

Sad proof of Satan’s former reign

 

 

You see us now as back then

Still trapped within the world of men

We who trembled, feared tumours

Shades of dread with cancer rumours

With health scarce given fore it had fled

Lives bound fast to vile soiled bed

 

To the Throne we brought our plea

Sought answer to our perplexity

But our complaint He’d not discuss

Rather for answer arrayed us thus

Guided us here by angel-sight

In hope you’d set all things aright

 

For you then, fine physician minds

This day we have set out to find

We come to medics, geniuses all

The finest talents God e’er did call

To you we’ve come at the double

In hope you’ll answer this our trouble

 

 

See us here, so sick and halt and blind

How failed you then a cure to find?

Surely since you were so wise

Some balm you could have then devised?

That days below were better borne

And earthly woes all laughed to scorn.

Pray tell us why your skill was hidden

When such help you could have given?

 

Twas not our fault, the physics exclaim

In truth, in this we’re scarce to blame!

To that cruel world we too fell prey

Failed wholesale to hold at bay

From our first days it showed its spite

Assailed us and did fiercely smite

 

Using such gifts that then you sought

Be sure a cure we would have wrought

But men down there our craft dismissed

Shrouded our work in deepest mist

For all ills in time we had atoned

If only men had left us alone

Hope have brought to each new dawn

If only, if only, they’d have let us be born.