Jump to content

Poems (Hoffman)/Be Patient, My Spirit

From Wikisource
4567767Poems — Be Patient, My SpiritMartha Lavinia Hoffman
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.