W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895.

The Missing Nine

George Thomas Coster (1835–1912)

I HEALED them all; by Me they live

A life redeemed of wholesome days;

And of the ten comes back to give

But one to Me a heart of praise?

Where are the Nine?

The creeping death in every limb

Dire-crumbling all the frame, I stayed

As much in all the ten as him

Who loudlier praises than he prayed.

Where are the Nine?

All, all the lepers would I save,

(To seek and save the lost I came),

From grave beyond the leper’s grave,

From shame that is eternal shame.

Where are the Nine?

“Arise and go thy way!” made whole,

For ever of foul scale and scar,

And saved to endless life thy soul!

One saved! oh, Nine that wander far!

Where are the Nine?