The Unpardonable Sin

    This is the sin against the Holy Ghost: -
    To speak of bloody power as right divine,
    And call on God to guard each vile chief's house,
    And for such chiefs, turn men to wolves and swine: -

    To go forth killing in White Mercy's name,
    Making the trenches stink with spattered brains,
    Tearing the nerves and arteries apart,
    Sowing with flesh the unreaped golden plains.

    In any Church's name, to sack fair towns,
    And turn each home into a screaming sty,
    To make the little children fugitive,
    And have their mothers for a quick death cry, -

    This is the sin against the Holy Ghost:
    This is the sin no purging can atone: -
    To send forth rapine in the name of Christ: -
    To set the face, and make the heart a stone.

Vachel Lindsay

Vachel Lindsay

Vachel Lindsay was an American poet known for his innovative performances of his poetry, which combined spoken word with music and theatrics. Born in Springfield, Illinois, Lindsay's work often revolved around American history and culture, reflecting his progressive social views. He played a significant role in the early 20th-century American poetry scene, influencing contemporaries and later poets with his dynamic style and passionate delivery.

Vachel Lindsay

English

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