Poems (Angier)/Be Lovely
BE LOVELY.
"If man, or woman either, wishes to realize the full power of personal beauty, it must be by cherishing noble hopes and purposes, by having something to do, and something to live for, which is worthy of humanity, and which, by expanding the capacities of the soul, gives expansion and symmetry to the body—T. C. Upham.
I speak not of features, of figure, or skin,
But of beauty of soul, which beams from within;
It shines in the face of the maiden and sage,
And lights up the brow of manhood and age;
When the banner of Love o'er the heart is unfurled,
And the fervent "God bless you" is breathed for the world.
But of beauty of soul, which beams from within;
It shines in the face of the maiden and sage,
And lights up the brow of manhood and age;
When the banner of Love o'er the heart is unfurled,
And the fervent "God bless you" is breathed for the world.
Though the form may be bowed, and whitened the hair,
The cheek may be furrowed with traces of care;
Though the eye lose its lustre, the voice its sweet tone,
All the charms of life's morning be faded and flown;
Thou still may'st be lovely, be lovely to all,
If the kind benediction from heart and lip fall.
The cheek may be furrowed with traces of care;
Though the eye lose its lustre, the voice its sweet tone,
All the charms of life's morning be faded and flown;
Thou still may'st be lovely, be lovely to all,
If the kind benediction from heart and lip fall.
Be lovely—when duty to God and to men
Is cheerfully done, and we cease to complain;
When the spirit at peace with its Maker can say—
I have not a wish but Thy will to obey;
When all shall thus live, but to scatter good seed,
Then will each human being be lovely indeed.
Is cheerfully done, and we cease to complain;
When the spirit at peace with its Maker can say—
I have not a wish but Thy will to obey;
When all shall thus live, but to scatter good seed,
Then will each human being be lovely indeed.