Frederick Philip Grove
THOUGHTS
(IM 1-14)

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e-Edition by Gaby Divay
© August 2007

University of Manitoba Libraries	FPG & FrL Collections	University of Manitoba Archives

PRESCIENCE[36] by Frederick Philip Grove Thus people say, "Had we but known before! "We could have guarded against this or that! "Of this we could have done less, of that more!"... Fond fallacy for Him to wonder at Who all disposes, good and ill [the]; bestows, And knows that things run from their ancient source! But if you could, would you expectant throes Add to the burden of your past remorse?[37] Is not that past enough that you would pile On top of it the future yet to be? Wait! Wait awhile before you climb the stile That leaps the hedge o'er which you cannot see. Was it in mercy that He made us blind? Or was it cunning--since we were to live? For who can say but it had been more kind This gift of life He gave us not to give? We spread our sail on some high glowing morn To roam the seas no other yet had sailed; And we come home, bewailing we were born; We found what all had found: that we had failed; And that, in sailing, we had suffered things Which, in the bearing, seemed not to be borne: That yet we bore them, is reproach that stings. We tack to shelter, sail and riggings torn. And hide our heads, bewildered with our shame; For they that stand ashore had warned us oft: They, too, had sailed the seas and come home lame, Instead of new worlds, glad to find some croft. Such is the prescience we are allowed By the Omniscient; but it we spurn Till we, in turn, stand at the jetty, cowed, And raise our warning voice--to teach not learn! Veiled are the details ever--when they arrive Is time enough to meet them with bold brow: That we must suffer is knowledge we derive; What we find for ourselves is only how. Ironic comment this on life to make-- A precious gift for which we did not ask-- That, did we know, we should in anguish quake: We must not know to be held to our task. In Memoriam 6