Poems (Hoffman)/My Duty

by Martha Lavinia Hoffman

MY DUTY

There's one thing left me from the toil and fret
Hopes, plans, ambitions, failures of existence,
One thought, that over every life-regret
Rises each morning with the day-dawn's constance;
It is my duty—plain and homely word—
And yet before its priceless, hidden beauty
 The noblest heart is stirred;
For from the lowly unseen glory of
Earth's unrecorded halo of good deeds
Bloom forth life's highest liberty and love,
 And slaves whose creeds
Of freedom from all duty made them slaves
To their own evil natures (tyrant masters)
Would not be bound in chains from sun to sun
If every day's plain duty had been done.

Each day my duty plain before me lies,
No shifting scene of unrealities
But a sweet, high and noble plan or way,
To scorn the wrong and do the right to-day.
 O, if for man
  Self-aggrandizement, pleasure, gain, avail
  How shall we fail
To reach in this life the eternal plan?
But if to choose between the wrong and right,
The darkness and the light,
Then every little life within its scope
Shall every day have hope.

Draw back the veil and look upon the throng
Of those who sing the new, immortal song;
By faith their robes washed white and spotless are,
 And yet of mighty worth before
God's judgment bar
Stand forth the deeds that they have done on earth.

No crown that's worth the winning
But was won
 By truth and trust,
The gilded flaunting livery of sinning
Sprang from and shall return unto the dust.

And I remember One who lived to bless
Who counted duty more than happiness,
Who spared not talents, time, His own life-blood,
Who went about this sad world doing good;
Yes, I remember One who spite of swords
Of clashing arguments and warring words
To-day is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.