# Things We Can’t Afford Poem Language: en Author: \-Author Unknown Original issue: The Heartbeat of the Remnant, Winter 2021, Number 4 Source pages: 22 Read article: Original PDF: Winter\-2021\-Remnant\(3\)\.pdf [The Heartbeat of the Remnant, Winter 2021]() We can’t afford to win the gain that means another’s loss; We can’t afford to miss the crown by stumbling at the cross\. We can’t afford the heedless jest that robs us of a friend; We can’t afford the laugh that finds in bitter tears an end\. We can’t afford the feast today that brings tomorrow’s fast; We can’t afford the race that comes to tragedy at last\. We can’t afford to play with fire, or tempt a serpent’s bite; We can’t afford to think that sin brings any true delight\. We can’t afford with serious heed to treat the cynic’s sneer; We can’t afford to wise men’s words to turn a careless ear\. We can’t afford for hate to give like hatred in return; We can’t afford to feed a flame and make it fiercer burn\. We can’t afford to lose the soul for this world’s fleeting breath; We can’t afford to barter life in mad exchange for death\. But blind to good are we apart from THEE, all\-seeing Lord; Oh, grant us light that we may know the things we can’t afford\! ![Sunlight streaming through a misty forest]() ## Magazine citation - [Sunlight streaming through a misty forest](): Adobestock\.com