Good Intentions by St. Clair Adams

Good Intentions


The road to hell, they assure me,

With good intentions is paved;

And I know my desires are noble,

But my deeds might brand me depraved.

It's the warped grain in our nature,

And St. Paul has written it true:

"The good that I would I do not;

But the evil I would not I do."

I've met few men who are monsters

When I came to know them inside;

Yet their bearing and dealings external

Are crusted with cruelty, pride,

Scorn, selfishness, envy, indifference,

Greed - why the long list pursue?

The good that they would they do not;

But the evil they would not they do.

Intentions may still leave us beast-like;

With unchangeable purpose we're men.

We must drive the nail home - and then clinch it

Or storms shake it loose again.

In things of great import, in trifles,

We our recreant souls must subdue

Till the evil we would not we do not

And the good that we would we do.


Sola Deo Gloria