Sonnet

Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
Do not judge and you will not be judged.
How often do we stand alone.
Our spirit by criticism crushed.

When we disapprove of someone.
Ask if we have not been there.
We may not even have been such a one.
But maybe in our hearts we were tempted to be there.

Can we not be more like the centurion.
Not even daring to ask him under our roof.
More forgiving less Puritan.
More caring and less aloof.

I say this then I read the newspaper.
Eager like the rest to titter.

Haiku

If we judge others
They have the right to judge us
Better to forgive