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Poem
January 1, 1915
The Union Times
Union, Union County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
A reflective poem advocating for greater understanding of others' hidden motives, struggles, and goodness to foster compassion, patience, and love instead of harsh judgment.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
If We But Knew.
Could we but draw back the curtains That surrounds each other's lives,
See the naked hearts and spirits, Know what spur the action gives;
Often we would find it better. Purer than we judge we should.
We would love each other better If we only understood.
Could we judge all deeds by motives, See the good and bad within,
Often we would love the sinner, All the while we loathe the sin.
Could we know the powers working To overthrow integrity
We would judge each other's errors, With more patient charity.
If we knew the cares and trials, Knew the efforts all in vain,
And the bitter disappointment Understood the loss and gain,
Would the grim external roughness seem, I wonder just the same?
Should we help where now we hinder, Should we pity where we blame?
Ah, we judge each other harshly, Knowing not life's hidden force;
Knowing not the fount of action Is less turbid at its source,
Seeing not amid the evil All the golden grains of good:
Oh, we'd love each other better, If we only understood.—Exchange.
Could we but draw back the curtains That surrounds each other's lives,
See the naked hearts and spirits, Know what spur the action gives;
Often we would find it better. Purer than we judge we should.
We would love each other better If we only understood.
Could we judge all deeds by motives, See the good and bad within,
Often we would love the sinner, All the while we loathe the sin.
Could we know the powers working To overthrow integrity
We would judge each other's errors, With more patient charity.
If we knew the cares and trials, Knew the efforts all in vain,
And the bitter disappointment Understood the loss and gain,
Would the grim external roughness seem, I wonder just the same?
Should we help where now we hinder, Should we pity where we blame?
Ah, we judge each other harshly, Knowing not life's hidden force;
Knowing not the fount of action Is less turbid at its source,
Seeing not amid the evil All the golden grains of good:
Oh, we'd love each other better, If we only understood.—Exchange.
What sub-type of article is it?
Didactic Verse
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Understanding Motives
Compassionate Judgment
Moral Empathy
Hidden Struggles
Loving Sinners
What entities or persons were involved?
—Exchange.
Poem Details
Title
If We But Knew.
Author
—Exchange.
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
We Would Love Each Other Better If We Only Understood.
Often We Would Love The Sinner, All The While We Loathe The Sin.
Oh, We'd Love Each Other Better, If We Only Understood.