If I have sinn’d in act, I may repent;
If I have err’d in thought, I may disclaim
My silent error, and yet feel no shame —
But if my soul, big with an ill intent,
Guilty in will, by fate be innocent,
Or being bad, yet murmurs at the curse
And incapacity of being worse
That makes my hungry passion still keep Lent
In keen expectance of a Carnival;
Where, in all worlds, that round the sun revolve
And shed their influence on this passive ball,
Abides a power that can my soul absolve?
Could any sin survive, and be forgiven —
One sinful wish would make a hell of heaven.
I am busy working to bring Hartley Coleridge's "If I have sinn’d in act" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Hartley Coleridge's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "If I have sinn’d in act" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.