from 'Waking Early Sunday Morning'

[kay_mulan]

O Bible chopped up and crucified
in hymns we hear but do not read,
none of the milder subtleties
of grace or art will sweeten these
stiff quatrains shovelled out four-square---
they sing of peace, and preach despair;
yet they gave darkness some control,
and left a loophole for the soul.