The Day of Judgment by Edith Nesbit
The poem explores the concept of judgment day, where individuals are forced to confront their sins and present them before God. Despite initial fear, they will not be shamed or frightened as God understands the burden of their sins. The angels will be instructed to remove the "sin-loads" and the individual will be cleansed through Christ's tears. Ultimately, the poem highlights the shame and regret that comes with realizing one's actions have caused sorrow to a loving deity.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1906 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Adventure · 246 words
First lines
WHEN the bearing and doing are over, And no more is to do or bear, God will see us and judge us The kind of men we were; And our sins, so ugly and heavy, We shall drag them into His sight, And throw them down at the foot of the throne, Foul on the steps of light.
We shall not be shamed or frightened, Though the angels are all at hand, For He will look at our burden, And He will understand.
He will turn to the little angels, Agog to hear and obey, And point to the festering sin-loads With, "Take that rubbish away!"
Then the steps will be cleared of the burdens That we threw down at His feet; And we shall be washed in the tears of Christ, And our tears bathe His feet.
What this Textopian page supports
The Day of Judgment is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Adventure, Romance
- Length: 246 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Day of Judgment by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Day of Judgment?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Trip To Mars by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Oswald Bastable And Others by Edith Nesbit
- Beyond Thirty by Edgar Rice Burroughs
- The Whizzer by Edward Everett Hale
- The Brick Moon by Edward Everett Hale
- The Coming Race by Edward Bulwer Lytton
Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative revolves around a futuristic society and advanced technology.
- Dystopian — The story presents a society characterized by suffering, oppression, and societal collapse.
- Adventure — The plot involves a journey and a series of events that the characters must navigate.
- Romance — There are elements of romantic relationships between characters.
Tags
Fantasy · Adventure · Children's Literature · Apocalypse · End of the World · Dystopian · Science Fiction · British Literature · Classic · Vintage · Early 20th Century · Youth Fiction