THE LONGEST STRIDE

                    What should the next advance be for our race
                    But to eradicate our first disgrace
                    Since we have suffered long for that betrayal
                    Forsaking Eden for this earthly jail?
                    The hope that Paradise might be regained
                    Once we our innate evils have restrained
                    To which from the beginning we’ve been prone,
                    Then our long adolescent stage outgrown—
                    Inspires us to take our longest stride
                    Past envy, anger, gluttony and pride
                    As well as lechery and sloth and greed,
                    For then indeed we may at last proceed
                    To build a world of sanity and love,
                    According to the plan of God above.

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