The Absentee - Crooked Still

«Someone is absent,» the shepherd said

As over my classbook he bent his head

«For several Sundays absent too

So tell me teacher what did you do?»

«I didn’t call as perhaps I should

I sent some cards but they did no good

I never heard and she never came

So I decided to drop her name»

He answered gravely, «The fault was mine

Hundred, no, there were ninety nine

One was lost and dark and cold

I sought that sheep that had left the fold

The path was stony and edged with thorns

My feet were wounded bruised and torn

I kept on searching not counting the cost

And overjoyed when I found the lost»

Thus spoke the shepherd in tender tones

«I looked and lo, I was all alone

But God, a vision, had sent to me

To show his will towards the absentee»