Compassion

He was a failure, and one day he died.
    Across the border of the mapless land
He found himself among a sad-eyed band
Of disappointed souls; they, too, had tried
And missed their purpose.    With one voice they cried
    Unto the shining Angel in command:
    'Oh, lead us not before our Lord to stand,
For we are failures, failures!    Let us hide.'

Yet on the Angel fared, until they stood
    Before the Master.    (Even His holy place
The hideous noises of the earth assailed.)
Christ reached His arms out to the trembling brood,
    With God's vast sorrow in His listening face.
Come unto Me,' He said; 'I, too, have failed.'