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Read more poems by Robert Service: Robert Service Poems at Poetry X.

Upon his way to rob a Bank
          He paused to watch a fire;
Though crowds were pressing rank on rank
          He pushed a passage nigher;
Then sudden heard, piercing and wild,
          The screaming of a child.

A Public Enemy was he,
          A hater of the law;
He looked around for bravery
          But only fear he saw;
Then to the craven crowds amaze
          He plunged into the blaze.

How anguished was the waiting spell
          Of horror and of pain!
Then--then from out that fiery hell
          He staggered forth again:
The babe was safe, in blankets wrapt,
          The man flame lapt.

His record was an evil one,
          Of violence and sin.
No good on earth he'd ever done,
          Yet--may he Heaven win!
A gangster he . . . Is it not odd?
          --With guts of God.

Added: 29 Jun 2002 | Last Read: 22 Nov 2009 6:38 AM | Viewed: 2356 times

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