Poems (White)/A Soul

by Jeannie Copes White

A SOUL

Did you ever start trying a cake to make?
Then into the oven you put it to bake?
Now if ever you have, you will know well why
You can never learn how, until by and by.
You've plenty of sugar, butter, flour and egg,
But yet you have a thousand pardons to beg
For offering others such horrid stuff.
When into the mixture, you put quite enough,
Yet will learn very well how, after a while,
The all proper manner, and in the best style
Of beating and mixing and baking it too,
Will carry success with cake all the way through.
We learn by failures, as in everything else;
That practice makes perfect; within your mouth melts.
You must have the best goods, you also must know
The great combination with baking will show.
The art of much beating, and sifting enough,
Together with powder that will make tiny puff.
This is the only way to make a good cake,
Using the best of everything for its sake.
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Now can you tell me how a soul you can make?
With a heart, mind, body, together you take,
Mixing it, sifting it, and baking it so
That it will rise well, and much higher go?
So no apology you will have to say,
When gladly you present your soul on that Day;
Others will ask you to explain to them how
For baking and measuring you will allow.