The Proud

Only the saint knows sin how rich it is. The saint

sins breathing, knows that to smell a flower

ts carnal and that bread sustains illusion.

The saint is sensual and knows more senses

to sin with than the sinner does. To hear a fugue

offends, since it delights. He cannot flee enjoyment

who when he mortifies the flesh finds that the flesh feels joy

in cease of suffering. The saint is punished

who knows humility to be God's door

yet cannot stoop to it, for lower though he may crawl

than fossil and flint, he carries down and down

unbreakable pride that would refuse all joy

and break all gifts and pit perfected self

against a faulty world. Then death forgives the saint.