To My Beloved Arsonists

“Woe to the babblers, woe to the loose thinkers and woe, woe to all the hangers-on who learned from them and praised them.”

—Anti-Climacus, The Sickness Unto Death

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Since you’re lonesome and long to be seen
As useful and important to your friends,
Acquaintances, romantic possibilities;
And since you’re insecure (so easy prey
To a seductive shortcut), you resort
To gossip: what a wiser age with greater nuance
Should have labelled scandal or detraction.

James, in his epistle, tells us that the tongue—
Although a lesser member of the body—
Is, in truth, a flame which can ignite great fuel easily;
Furthermore, he claims, this flame is born of Hell
Itself: this minor member (double-minded, forked)
Contaminates all flesh and is not tamed:
A venomous and zealous, peaceless thing.

Therefore judgement—or detraction—is an arrogation:
Dealing out the law instead of doing.
There is one judge only who has perfect power:
When He sits, His judgement of the judges
Will be strict, exacting, harsh in measure of their own.

Yet you gossip—light the flames
Then leave them unattended: eke out gains
To store up on the earth your gold and grudges—
Careless of both consequence and mercy.
Then, when the tongues of others turn on you,
You cry loud for justice—act aggrieved…
But mercy is not granted to the merciless.

Therefore, mend your heart; restrain your tongue;
Suffer patiently your own temptation;
Be more swift to listen; still your wrath
And, with humility, accept humiliation:
He who gifts all wisdom—each good thing—
Who does not change—and in whom perfect mercy
Is too perfect justice…
Judges soon.

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A very happy New Year’s Eve to any readers (and especially subscribers) of The Brass Bull. I intimated that I should have another piece ready before 2026 and am pleased to have been able to deliver. Winter is only just begun, but at least the days stretch gradually longer now. Why not