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Poems (Jackson)/My Legacy

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4579708Poems — My LegacyHelen Hunt Jackson
MY LEGACY.
THEY told me I was heir, I turned in haste,  And ran to seek my treasure,And wondered as I ran how it was placed,—  If I should find a measureOf gold, or if the titles of fair landsAnd houses would be laid within my hands.
I journeyed many roads; I knocked at gates;  I spoke to each wayfarerI met, and said, "A heritage awaits  Me. Art not thou the bearerOf news? Some message sent to me wherebyI learn which way my new possessions lie?"
Some asked me in; naught lay beyond their door;  Some smiled and would not tarry,But said that men were just behind who bore  More gold than I could carry;And so the morn, the noon, the day were spent,While empty-handed up and down I went.
At last one cried, whose face I could not see,  As through the mists he hasted;"Poor child, what evil ones have hindered thee,  Till this whole day is wasted?Hath no man told thee that thou art joint heirWith one named Christ, who waits the goods to share?"
The one named Christ I sought for many days,  In many places vainly; I heard men name his name in many ways;  I saw his temples plainly;But they who named him most gave me no signTo find him by, or prove the heirship mine.
And when at last I stood before his face,  I knew him by no tokenSave subtle air of joy which filled the place;  Our greeting was not spoken;In solemn silence I received my share,Kneeling before my brother and "joint heir."
My share! No deed of house or spreading lands,  As I had dreamed; no measureHeaped up with gold; my elder brother's hands  Had never held such treasure.Foxes have holes, and birds in nests are fed:My brother had not where to lay his head.
My share! The right like him to know all pain  Which hearts are made for knowing;The right to find in loss the surest gain  To reap my joy from sowingIn bitter tears; the right with him to keepA watch by day and night with all who weep.
My share! To-day men call it grief and death;  I see the joy and life to-morrow;I thank our Father with my every breath,  For this sweet legacy of sorrow;And through my tears I call to each, "Joint heirWith Christ, make haste to ask him for thy share."