Because we cannot be clever and honest

and are inventors of things more intricate

than the snowflake – Lord have mercy.

Because we are full of pride

in our humility, and because we believe

in our disbelief – Lord have mercy.

Because we will protect ourselves

from ourselves to the point

of destroying ourselves – Lord have mercy.

And because on the slope to perfection,

when we should be half-way up,

we are half-way down – Lord have mercy.

R.S. Thomas (1913-2000),  Mass for Hard Times (1992).