Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/256

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Not Understood.
Not understood. Poor souls with stunted vision Oft measure giants by their narrow gauge;The poisoned shafts of falsehood and derision Are oft impelled ’gainst those who mould the age,             Not understood.
Not understood. The secret springs of action, Which lie beneath the surface and the show,Are disregarded; with self-satisfaction We judge our neighbours, and they often go,             Not understood.
Not understood. How trifles often change us! The thoughtless sentence or the fancied slightDestroy long years of friendship and estrange us, And on our souls there falls a freezing blight;             Not understood.
Not understood. How many hearts are aching For lack of sympathy! Ah! day by day,How many cheerless, lonely hearts are breaking! How many noble spirits pass away             Not understood!
Oh, God! that men would see a little clearer, Or judge less harshly where they cannot see;Oh, God! that men would draw a little nearer To one another, they’d be nearer Thee,             And understood.

Thomas Bracken

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