Forgive me all the worthless good advice
I pompously, remorselessly do spout;
Forgive me for my fearful flight from doubt
desperate not to look at myself twice;
Forgive my harm to images of Christ
I tried to break to serve in my redoubt;
I wondered what I thought to live without
hearing myself, at last, deny Him thrice.
Help me, my friend, to lovingly obey
commands I hear as loudly as my heart;
Help me to love my neighbors, and to play
whatever, high or low, may be my part;
Enjoy with me God's food for each new day
to outgrow angels, if we deign to start.