Page:Poems Hoffman.djvu/518

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BE PATIENT MY SPIRIT

Be patient my spirit,
This one thing is left thee—
Thy duty,
The lightnings of tempests have cleft thee
Still, only to bear it,
The burden down pressing,
Will it bring thee no blessing,
No beauty
Of cross-purchased crown that the patient inherit,
Of such perfect joy that 'twere Heaven to wear it?

Be patient my spirit,
This one thing remaineth—
Thy duty,
Full measure that each life containeth,
Though faithfulness merit
More sweet and less bitter.
Yet small will it matter,
The beauty,
The pride and success that the faithless inherit
To the cross purchased crown, when 'tis Heaven to wear it.


A RETROSPECT

They who enjoy most suffer most life's woes,
And ecstasies come not alike to each,
One little knows
What heights and depths another's soul may reach.

Two travelers gazing on one common scene,
One sees a weed-grown field and threatening sky,
The other sees a thousand charms between—
His is the Artist's eye.

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