Classic Poem

We make too much of right and wrong:
Three virtues sum it all, nor less
Nor more, and we who crawl along
By light of them our way may guess
Out of the world's ungodly mess,
Whether we look to the Cross, or whether
To idols of genial heathenness:
We who are all in the mud together.

Courage, cleanliness, charity:
There are no virtues fixt, but these:
On these, the sole essential three,
We base our rising tendencies,
And various moralities
To suit our age, or maybe the weather,
Or stress of chance necessities:
We who are all in the mud together.

Many to ancient names, and some
To newer creeds and altars cling:
But shining down the ages come
Three virtues, never altering,
By which alone our souls we bring
Out of the primal ooze and nether
Gulfs whence we are clambering:
We who are all in the mud together.

Courage, cleanliness, charity:
Hold by these to the end of the tether,
For only these may lead us free:
We who are all in the mud together.