! ! A Compliment Reflected Poem by Michael Shepherd

To praise the ‘generosity of soul’
in someone other – and that, to their face –
must be, to know that quality oneself;
and more, to be familiar in its use;

what splendour there of human character –
to link together these two noble words:
to recognise in others, one’s own soul;
and then, to see one’s generosity,

reflected in another’s qualities;
and then, to link the two as action seen,
joins mind, heart, soul, in generosity
in one that names and one that’s named, akin!

To show, and see, and praise, makes parity
in earth as is in heav’n: true charity.