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The other toiled until the setting sun
With stealing shadows blurred the dusty day。
Ere harvest time； upon earth's peaceful breast
Each laid him down among the unreaping dead。
〃Labour hath other recompense than rest；
Else were the toiler like the fool；〃 I said；
〃God meteth him not less； but rather more
Because he sowed and others reaped his store。〃
Mine Host
There stands a hostel by a travelled way；
Life is the road and Death the worthy host；
Each guest he greets； nor ever lacks to say；
〃How have ye fared？〃 They answer him； the most；
〃This lodging place is other than we sought；
We had intended farther； but the gloom
Came on apace； and found us ere we thought：
Yet will we lodge。 Thou hast abundant room。〃
Within sit haggard men that speak no word；
No fire gleams their cheerful welcome shed；
No voice of fellowship or strife is heard
But silence of a multitude of dead。
〃Naught can I offer ye；〃 quoth Death； 〃but rest！〃
And to his chamber leads each tired guest。
Equality
I saw a King； who spent his life to weave
Into a nation all his great heart thought；
Unsatisfied until he should achieve
The grand ideal that his manhood sought；
Yet as he saw the end within his reach；
Death took the sceptre from his failing hand；
And all men said； 〃He gave his life to teach
The task of honour to a sordid land！〃
Within his gates I saw； through all those years；
One at his humble toil with cheery face；
Whom （being dead） the children； half in tears；
Remembered oft； and missed him from his place。
If he be greater that his people blessed
Than he the children loved； God knoweth best。
Anarchy
I saw a city filled with lust and shame；
Where men； like wolves； slunk through the grim half…light；
And sudden； in the midst of it； there came
One who spoke boldly for the cause of Right。
And speaking； fell before that brutish race
Like some poor wren that shrieking eagles tear；
While brute Dishonour； with her bloodless face
Stood by and smote his lips that moved in prayer。
〃Speak not of God！ In centuries that word
Hath not been uttered！ Our own king are we。〃
And God stretched forth his finger as He heard
And o'er it cast a thousand leagues of sea。
Disarmament
One spake amid the nations； 〃Let us cease
From darkening with strife the fair World's light；
We who are great in war be great in peace。
No longer let us plead the cause by might。〃
But from a million British graves took birth
A silent voice the million spake as one
〃If ye have righted all the wrongs of earth
Lay by the sword！ Its work and ours is done。〃
The Dead Master
Amid earth's vagrant noises； he caught the note sublime：
To…day around him surges from the silences of Time
A flood of nobler music； like a river deep and broad；
Fit song for heroes gathered in the banquet…hall of God。
The Harvest of the Sea
The earth grows white with harvest； all day long
The sickles gleam； until the darkness weaves
Her web of silence o'er the thankful song
Of reapers bringing home the golden sheaves。
The wave tops whiten on the sea fields drear；
And men go forth at haggard dawn to reap；
But ever 'mid the gleaners' song we hear
The half…hushed sobbing of the hearts that weep。
The Dying of Pere Pierre
〃。 。 。 with two other priests； the same night he died；
and was buried by the shores of the lake that bears his name。〃
Chronicle。
〃Nay； grieve not that ye can no honour give
To these poor bones that presently must be
But carrion； since I have sought to live
Upon God's earth； as He hath guided me；
I shall not lack！ Where would ye have me lie？
High heaven is higher than cathedral nave：
Do men paint chancels fairer than the sky？〃
Beside the darkened lake they made his grave；
Below the altar of the hills； and night
Swung incense clouds of mist in creeping lines
That twisted through the tree…trunks； where the light
Groped through the arches of the silent pines：
And he； beside the lonely path he trod；
Lay； tombed in splendour； in the House of God。
Eventide
The day is past and the toilers cease；
The land grows dim 'mid the shadows grey；
And hearts are glad； for the dark brings peace
At the close of day。
Each weary toiler； with lingering pace；
As he homeward turns； with the long day done；
Looks out to the west； with the light on his face
Of the setting sun。
Yet some see not （with their sin…dimmed eyes）
The promise of rest in the fading light；
But the clouds loom dark in the angry skies
At the fall of night。
And some see only a golden sky
Where the elms their welcoming arms stretch wide
To the calling rooks； as they homeward fly
At the eventide。
It speaks of peace that comes after strife；
Of the rest He sends to the hearts He tried；
Of the calm that follows the stormiest life
God's eventide。
Upon Watts' Picture 〃Sic Transit〃
〃What I spent I had； what I saved； I lost； what I gave； I have。〃
But yesterday the tourney； all the eager joy of life；
The waving of the banners； and the rattle of the spears；
The clash of sword and harness； and the madness of the strife；
To…night begin the silence and the peace of endless years。
（One sings within。）
But yesterday the glory and the prize；
And best of all； to lay it at her feet；
To find my guerdon in her speaking eyes：
I grudge them not； they pass； albeit sweet。
The ring of spears； the winning of the fight；
The careless song； the cup； the love of friends；
The earth in spring to live； to feel the light
'Twas good the while it lasted： here it ends。
Remain the well…wrought deed in honour done；
The dole for Christ's dear sake； the words that fall
In kindliness upon some outcast one；
They seemed so little： now they are my All。
A Song of Comfort
〃Sleep； weary ones； while ye may
Sleep； oh； sleep！〃
Eugene Field。
Thro' May time blossoms； with whisper low；
The soft wind sang to the dead below：
〃Think not with regret on the Springtime's song
And the task ye left while your hands were strong。
The song would have ceased when the Spring was past；
And the task that was joyous be weary at last。〃
To the winter sky when the nights were long
The tree…tops tossed with a ceaseless song：
〃Do ye think with regret on the sunny days
And the path ye left； with its untrod ways？
The sun might sink in a storm cloud's frown
And the path grow rough when the night came down。〃
In the grey twilight of the autumn eves；
It sighed as it sang through the dying leaves：
〃Ye think with regret that the world was bright；
That your path was short and your task was light；
The path； though short； was perhaps the best
And the toil was sweet； that it led to rest。〃
The Pilgrims
An uphill path； sun…gleams between the showers；
Where every beam that broke the leaden sky
Lit other hills with fairer ways than ours；
Some clustered graves where half our memories lie；
And