# Let Me Not Hate explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Georgia Douglas Johnson.

## What happens

The speaker pleads for the strength to resist hatred despite the world's hostility and oppression, choosing love over vengeance and seeking divine aid to preserve inner light.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Resilience

The speaker endures persecution and yet resolves to love, demonstrating resilience against hatred.

### Spirituality and Transcendence

The plea to God for help and the imagery of altar-gleams suggest a spiritual struggle and transcendence over worldly malice.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who struggles against hatred and seeks to maintain love and peace.

### Hope

Implied as the sustaining force behind the speaker's plea to love and keep the altar-gleams alive.

## Key lines

> Let me not hate, although the bruising world decries my peace, Gives me no quarter, hounds me while I sleep;

Do not let me hate, even though the harsh world condemns my peace, offers me no mercy, and pursues me even in my sleep.

_The speaker describes relentless persecution and the temptation to hate._

> Let me not hate, though girt by vipers, green and hissing through the dark; I fain must love.

Do not let me hate, even though I am surrounded by venomous enemies in the darkness; I must choose to love.

_The speaker resolves to love despite being encircled by danger and malice._

> God help me keep the altar-gleams that flicker wearily, anon, On down the world’s grim night!

God, help me preserve the faint, weary lights of faith and hope that continue through the world's dark night.

_The speaker seeks divine assistance to maintain spiritual light in a grim world._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_9_se/chapters/let-me-not-hate
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_9_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_9_se/chapters