Poem October 30, 1948 Issue

THE PRAETORIAN GUARD

Pierrepont E. Twitchell

A soldier of the Emperor am I,
A guard Praetorian. A passer-by
Shrinks timidly aside as I come near;
I see his face go white with sudden fear;
They think of us as evil; our repute
Is that of men both cruel and dissolute.

And so was I, until I was assigned
To guard a man named Paul. My heart was blind,
But this Cilician Jew has made me see.
He showed me I was bound and he the free.
He opened wide the door which all men seek.
He cast his pearls, forbearing not to speak.

He told me of the inner joy he felt
And whence it came. Until at last we knelt!
And now a soldier of the Christ am I,
And when God orders it, I really try
To open wide the hearts of those I meet
To what it is has made my life so sweet.

Pierrepont E. Twitchell

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