The Preacher

by Emily Dickinson · (no date)
Published 01/07/1880

HE preached upon "breadth" till it argued him narrow,—

      The broad are too broad to define;

And of "truth" until it proclaimed him a liar,—

The truth never flaunted a sign.


Simplicity fled from his counterfeit presence

As gold the pyrites would shun.

What confusion would cover the innocent Jesus

To meet so enabled a man!

#emily dickinson #hypocrisy #religious doubt #truth

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