| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | Requital | | By John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892) |
| | | AS Islam’s Prophet, when his last day drew | |
| Nigh to its close, besought all men to say | |
| Whom he had wronged, to whom he then should pay | |
| A debt forgotten, or for pardon sue, | |
| And, through the silence of his weeping friends, | 5 |
| A strange voice cried: “Thou owest me a debt,” | |
| “Allah be praised!” he answered. “Even yet | |
| He gives me power to make to thee amends. | |
| Oh friend! I thank thee for thy timely word.” | |
| So runs the tale. Its lesson all may heed, | 10 |
| For all have sinned in thought, or word, or deed, | |
| Or, like the Prophet, through neglect have erred. | |
| All need forgiveness, all have debts to pay | |
| Ere the night cometh, while it still is day. | | | | |
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