Poem for Second Sunday after Trinity

A Poison Tree

I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears:
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night.
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.

And into my garden stole,
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see;
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

William Blake (1757 – 1827)

The Coventry Litany of Reconciliation, with its stark response FATHER
FORGIVE, makes us face the fact that we are all part of a sinful fallen world.
We may not have actually murdered any one but we have all felt anger
towards someone, which if given its full rein could have led to deadly
violence.

In church we make a General Confession beginning WE confess
because we know we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Thank God that nothing and no one is beyond the love and forgiveness of
God.

-Tina Lamb