[ A Poem for Lisa ] [ Paris ] [ The Traveller ]
The Camel and the Needle's Eye
Tall was my camel and laden high,
And small the gate as a needle's eye.
The City within was very fair,
And I and my camel would enter there.
"You must lower your load, " the Porter cried,
"You must throw away that bundle of pride."
This I did, but the load was great,
Far too wide for the narrow gate.
"Now, " said the Porter, "to make it less,
Discard that hamper of selfishness."
I obeyed, though with much ado,
Yet still nor camel nor I got through.
"Ah." said the Porter, "your load must hold
Some little package of trust-in-gold!"
The merest handful was all I had,
Yet "Cast it aside" the Porter bade.
Then lo, a marvel! the camel tall
Shrank to the size of the portal small.
And all my riches, a vast estate,
Easily passed through the narrow gate!
