Poems (Linn)/Go Labor, Watch and Pray

by Edith Willis Linn

GO LABOR, WATCH AND PRAY.

ONE day I walked upon the stony beach,
And in a listless meditative mood
I heard the song of merry, merry birds,
And distant music of the rippling stream
That hastened through the valley to the sea.
The sun shone down on fragrant, budding flowers,
And blooming grasses, bending in the breeze;
On opening daisies and the gleaming gold
Of buttercups, the white of crowfoot flowers
And blackberry vines, that glimmered in the sun.

The messages of nature touched my heart;
And from the far unknown, whose tranquil space
Is sounded only by the loftiest thoughts,
Or wildest fancies of the youthful brain,
I heard a voice that like a summons came.

"Arise and work! Lift up the screen of self
That shuts thee from the truer, better life,
And step beyond the portals of sweet rest
Into the foremost struggles of to-day.
The world with all it holds for thee and thine
Is not for thee alone or thy sweet will,
But thou art for the world and for its work:
Arise and do! thy hand, though only frail,
And, weak thy woman nature, may uplift
Some stronger nature to a higher plane,
And through its labor may the world be blest."

And in the fullness of my heart I said:
"I will arise! Oh, show me noble deeds!
Oh, give me strength to fight the valiant fight!
Oh, lead me to the ranks, and place my hand
Upon the wheel of life, and let me guide!
Oh, let me lead men's hearts to better things!
Oh, let me raise depraved humanity,
And teach the people of a purer life!
Oh, lead me forth to labor, strive and win;
To fame, to honor, glory, lead me on!"
And yet again those words that thrilled my soul:
"Arise and work; go labor, watch and pray."

"O, Lord," I cried, "have pity, I am blind!
No noble action needs my weaker will,
No valiant deed is mine to do or dare!"

And then I heard that wondrous voice again:
"O timid, foolish heart! thy lot in life
May never lead to glory, honor, fame;
The world may never need heroic deeds
Such as thou dream'st of, yet from day to day
Thy duty waits thee; and make this thy prayer:
Each day to gain the knowledge of to-day;
Each day to do the duty of to-day;
Each moment to increase some mortal's joy,
Or to relieve some weary watcher's pain."

Then kneeling there closer to nature's heart,
In hush and silence and alone with God,
I felt the beating of the universe,
And the dull, heavy, throb, throb, throb,
Of countless hearts that broke beneath their load.

Then kneeling there, I whispered: "I obey;
Lord, where Thou leadest, I will follow Thee!
Yea, even though before me lies the path
Through valleys dark with damp night-dews of sin;
Lead on, lead on: O world, I long for thee!
I long to clasp the hand of human life,
And creeping closer to the heart of things
Live hand in hand with sorrow and the world.
No man so low but he is brother-man;
No life so poor, but it may name me friend,
Lead on, lead on! I wait the summons now.
Better to struggle hand to hand with them,
The toilers, than to lie beneath the flowers,
And dream this life away."

And dream this life away."And then again
Around me sounded in the evening air,
The words that gave me courage, hope and strength:
"Arise! Go forth to labor, watch and pray!"