Five Sonnets on Micah 6: (4) Failure

“What God requires”, a simply stated thought;
A harsh imperative, but compromise
May not be entertained in any wise,
For absolute perfection must be brought
Into the presence of the heavenly King.
Not one of us can meet the standard set,
Not one of us in every deed has met
The sinless purity which we must bring.
We search our hearts, find failure, feel the guilt
That selfish pride and attitude beget;
Perhaps we've laboured tirelessly, and yet
It's only flimsy castles we have built.
But “God requires” is not the final word
For “God provides” may graciously be heard.

This poem was a finalist in the February 2018 poetry contest