Custer, and Other Poems.
understood, The good are half bad and the bad are half good.

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man's wealth, You must first know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life's little span, Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.

No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean, Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.

Wherever you go, you will find the earth's masses, Are always divided in just these two classes.

And oddly enough, you will find too, I ween, There's only one lifter to twenty who lean.

In which class are you? Are you easing the load, Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?

Or are you a leaner, who lets others share Your portion of labor, and worry and care?

 The Creed To Be

Our thoughts are molding unmade spheres, And, like a blessing or a curse, They thunder down the formless years, And ring throughout the universe.

And, like a blessing or a curse,

And ring throughout the universe.

We build our futures, by the shape Of our desires, and not by acts. There is no pathway of escape; No priest-made creeds can alter facts.

Of our desires, and not by acts.

No priest-made creeds can alter facts.

Salvation is not begged or bought; Too long this selfish hope sufficed; Too long man reeked with lawless thought, And leaned upon a tortured Christ.

Too long this selfish hope sufficed;

And leaned upon a tortured Christ.

Like shriveled leaves, these worn out creeds Are dropping from Religion's tree; The world begins to know its needs, And souls are crying to be free.


 Prev. P 28/60 next 
Back Top
Privacy Statement Terms of Service Contact