An eloquent word -- for the Master, Yet half for the speaker, too; For he sought as his gain the praises of men And not the good he might do. So the angels sadly left it, And for all of its lofty sound, Men tossed it awhile to and fro with a smile, And then let it fall to the ground. A stammering word for the Master, -- Blundering, timid, and slow; But the best he could do, for his purpose was true, But his heart was a-thumping so. Yet the angels seized it and bore it On pinions happy and strong, And made it a sword in the war of the Lord, The struggle of right against wrong. For the battle is not to the giant, The race is not to the fleet, And an armor of might for the bitterest fight Is found at the Saviour's feet. And thrones in the highest heaven, And the laud of the seraphim, Are for weak ones that dare follow Christ anywhere, Yea, venture to fail -- for Him. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A DEAF AND DUMB LADY by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD THE LADY TO HER GUITAR by EMILY JANE BRONTE A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG(5 by THOMAS CAMPION POMONA by PATRICK REGINALD CHALMERS THE ABIDING BURG (DEDICATION: TO THE SMALL TOWNS OF CHRISTENDOM) by WILFRED ROWLAND CHILDE ON SEEING A BIRD-CATCHER by ELIZA COOK INSCRIPTION FOR AN HERMITAGE IN THE AUTHOR'S GARDEN by WILLIAM COWPER |