Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 139

JUSTICE

Three men went out one summer night; No care had they or aim.

They dined and drank. Ere we go home We'll have, they said, a game.

Three girls began that summer night A life of endless shame, And went through drink, disease, and death As swift as racing flame.

Lawless, homeless, foul, they died; Rich, loved, and praised, the men.

But when they all shall meet with G.o.d, And Justice speaks, what then?

--Stopford Augustus Brooke.

OPPORTUNITY IMPROVED

This I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream: There spread a cloud of dust along a plain; And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords Shocked upon swords and shields. A prince's banner Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.

A craven hung along the battle's edge, And thought, "Had I a sword of keener steel-- That blue blade that the king's son bears--but this Blunt thing----!" he snapt and flung it from his hand, And lowering crept away and left the field.

Then came the king's son, wounded, sore bestead, And weaponless, and saw the broken sword, Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand, And ran and s.n.a.t.c.hed it and, with battle-shout Lifted afresh, he hewed his enemy down, And saved a great cause that heroic day.

--Edward Rowland Sill.

DUM VIVIMUS VIVAMUS

Live while you live, the epicure would say, And seize the pleasures of the pa.s.sing day!

Live while you live, the sacred preacher cries, And give to G.o.d each moment as it flies!

Lord, in my views let both united be; I live in pleasure when I live to thee.

--Philip Doddridge.

It is bad to have an empty purse, But an empty head is a whole lot worse.

--Nixon Waterman.

Shut your mouth, and open your eyes, And you're sure to learn something to make you wise.

--Nixon Waterman.

THE COMMON LOT

Once, in the flight of ages past, There lived a man, and who was he?

Mortal! howe'er thy lot be cast, That man resembled thee.

Unknown the region of his birth; The land in which he died unknown; His name has perished from the earth; This truth survives alone:

That joy and grief and hope and fear, Alternate triumphed in his breast; His bliss and woe--a smile, a tear!

Oblivion hides the rest.

He suffered--but his pangs are o'er; Enjoyed--but his delights are fled; Had friends--his friends are now no more; And foes--his foes are dead.

He saw whatever thou hast seen; Encountered all that troubles thee; He was--whatever thou hast been; He is--what thou shalt be.

The rolling seasons, day and night, Sun, moon, and stars, the earth and man, Erewhile his portion, life, and light, To him exist in vain.

The clouds and sunbeams, o'er his eye That once their shades and glory threw, Have left in yonder silent sky No vestige where they flew.

The annals of the human race, Their ruins, since the world began, Of him afford no other trace Than this--there lived a man.

--James Montgomery.

Happy the man, and happy he alone, He who can call to-day his own; He who, secure within, can say, "To-morrow, do thy worst; for I have lived to-day.

Be fair or foul, or rain or shine, The joys I have possessed, in spite of fate, are mine.

Not heaven itself upon the past has power, But what has been has been, and I have had my hour."

--Horace, tr. by John Dryden.

PROEM

If this little world to-night Suddenly should fall through s.p.a.ce In a hissing, headlong flight, Shriveling from off its face, As it falls into the sun, In an instant every trace Of the little crawling things-- Ants, philosophers, and lice, Cattle, c.o.c.kroaches, and kings, Beggars, millionaires, and mice, Men and maggots--all as one As it falls into the sun-- Who can say but at the same Instant, from some planet far, A child may watch us and exclaim, "See the pretty shooting star!"

--Oliver Herford.

DOING AND BEING

Think not alone to _do_ right, and fulfill Life's due perfection by the simple worth Of lawful actions called by justice forth, And thus condone a world confused with ill!

But fix the high condition of thy will To _be_ right, that its good's spontaneous birth May spread like flowers springing from the earth On which the natural dews of heaven distill; For these require no honors, take no care For grat.i.tude from men--but more are blessed In the sweet ignorance that they are fair; And through their proper functions live and rest, Breathing their fragrance out with joyous air, Content with praise of bettering what is best.

--William Davies.

And, since we needs must hunger, better for man's love Than G.o.d's truth! better for companions sweet Than great convictions! let us bear our weights Preferring dreary hearths to desert souls.

--Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

RICHES

Since all the riches of this world May be gifts from the devil and earthly kings, I should suspect that I worshiped the devil If I thanked my G.o.d for worldly things.

--William Blake.

Trust to the Lord to hide thee, Wait on the Lord to guide thee, So shall no ill betide thee Day by day.