Poem July 19, 1969 Issue

EXAMPLE

Alice E. Tonking

Am I my brother's keeper? Can it be
Concern of mine that he should stand or fall?
He has his road to travel; I have mine;
And must I be responsive to his call?

And yet—if I should miss the narrow path
Would he be tempted then to do the same?
Or if some worldly pleasure I pursue
And he should follow, would mine be the blame?

Am I my brother's keeper? Grant that I
May never cause his pilgrim feet to stray,
Or turn his gaze from yonder Bethlehem star.
Or put a stumbling block across his way.

Who is my brother's keeper? He and I
Are dwellers both in one great All-in-all.
Securely in that omnipresence held
We in God's likeness stand. We cannot fall.

Alice E. Tonking

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors