994

Heretic

Pelagius once wrestled with the text

And had to be expunged for what he taught.

How different things might have been had he not vexed

Augustine and the cardinals by his thought;

Then all the cloying weight of guilt and sin

Might gently fade away and our Free Will

Would stand alongside Grace to let us in

To all the gifts the Saviour meant to fill

Our lives, but which the ancient Pope

Realised would undermine his grip;

Where there's no sin to pardon and the hope

Of heaven can't be lost by this one slip.

            But Augustine got his way and endless sin

            Eats at each troubled mind from deep within.

Brian Hick August 2011

©copyright Sally Hick 16.9.23