KEEPING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

by Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861)

Thou shalt have one God only, who

Would be at the expense of two?

No graven images may be

Worshipped, except the currency:

Swear not at all, for thy curse

Thine enemy is none the worse:

At church on Sunday to attend

Will serve to keep the world thy frield:

Honour thy parents; that is, all

From whom advancement may befall:

Thou shalt not kill; but needst not strive

Officiously to keep alive.

Do not adultery commit

Advantage rarely comes of it.

Thou shalt not steal; an empty feat,

When its so lucrative to cheat.

Bear not false witness; let the lie

Have time on its own wings to fly:

Thou shalt not covet: but tradition

Approves all forms of competition.

The sum of all is, thou shalt love,

If any body, God above:

At any rate shall never labour

More than thyself to love thy neighbour.