Poems of Peace/Self-Sacrifice
SELF-SACRIFICE
Great glory crowns the heights of hope by arduous
struggle won;
Bright honour rounds the hoary head that mighty works
hath done;
Fair riches come to him who strives in ways of golden
gain,
And fame enshrines his name who works with genius-
glowing brain:
But greater glory waits for him who, in the bloodless
strife
’Gainst self and wrong, adopts, in love, the sacrificial
life;
And brighter honour rounds the brow of him who, ’mid
the scorns
Of blind idolaters of self, accepts the crown of
thorns;
And fairer, purer riches come to him who greatly
strives
To walk in ways of love and truth to sweeten human
lives;
And he who serveth well mankind exchanges fleeting
fame
For Light eternal, Joy and Peace, and robes of heavenly
flame.