Poems (Barker)/For What Are You Waiting

by Alice J. Green Barker

For What Are You Waiting.

For what are you waiting, my brother?
As you journey through life's vale of tears,
You are wasting the glorious sunshine,
In youth it most brightly appears;
O! why stand you idle and waiting?
Your hands have a work to perform,
The Master will come, are you ready,
And sheltered from every rude storm?

For what are you waiting, my sister?
The journey is toilsome and long,
What have you accomplished to brighten
The path for the numberless throng.
All of them your brothers and sisters,
And heirs to their six feet of sod;
All erring and wandering and failing
Yet journeying onward to God.

For what are you waiting, my sister?
The great things in life may not be
The star that so brightly shall glisten
For you o'er the mystical sea.
There are deeds to be done without waiting
Each day in the journey of life,
And the heart that looks after the small things
Is the one that aids most in the strife.

For what are you waiting, my sister?
The morning to you dawneth bright;
O! work while the day is before you,
You soon may be buried in night.
Reach out to the fallen and fainting
A hand ever ready to aid,
Speek softly and cheeringly to them
But never in coldness upbraid.

For what are you waiting, my brother?
I see you are waiting in vain,
While others are working in patience
And reaping and binding the grain.
O! when it is gathered, and empty
You stand by the wide open gate,
While others are carrying the bundles
You will murmur, "O! why did I wait?

For the Father keeps watch o'er His children
And he knows who have brought in the grain,
His voice will be sad when he tells you
"I fear you have waited in vain."
O! go while the harvest is ready
And work with a hearty good will;
The eyes of companions are on you,
Why alone are you idle and still?

For what are you waiting, my brother?
He who would be first in his place,
And join in the song of the workers,
Drinks deep at the fountain of grace.
Go aid in the work that's before you,
Perchance you'll be hindred by rain,
Lest when by the gate He will tell you,
"I fear you have waited in vain,"