How much, preventing God! how much I owe
To the defenses thou hast round me set:
Example, custom, fear, occasional slow,
These scorned bondmen were my parapet.
I dare not peep over this parapet
To gauge with glance the roaring gulf below,
The depths of sin to which I had descended,
Had not these me against myself defended.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, Fear Poems, Sin Poems, Custom & Convention PoemsBased on Keywords: bondmen, preventing, defenses