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1886–1945

Of Worship and Conduct

Thomas Burke

At the corner of the Causeway on every seventh evening Gathers the band of Salvation Army, Making big noise of Washed-in-Blood-of-Lamb. At temple in East India Dock Road

Men gather in white clothes, and sing, And march with candles and pray to Lady. At shop in Pennyfields, many times a day, This person pays respect to Big Man Joss,

And burns to him prayer-papers and punk-sticks. And all day long men toil for wife and child; Wife suffer and stint to make bigger plate for child; Child beg in street to get food for sick mother;

Sister wear ragged clothes for sake of little brother. And none of these has bowed to Joss, Or marched with candle, Or washed in blood of Lamb.

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Of Worship and Conduct · Thomas Burke · Poetry Cove