Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO AN OLD LADY SEEN AT A GUEST-HOUSE FOR SOLDIERS, by ALEXANDER ROBERTSON



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO AN OLD LADY SEEN AT A GUEST-HOUSE FOR SOLDIERS, by                    
First Line: Quiet thou didst stand at thine appointed place
Last Line: The radiance of thy benignity.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


QUIET thou didst stand at thine appointed place,
There was no press to purchase—younger grace
Attracts the youth of valour. Thou didst not know,
Like the old, kindly Martha, to and fro
To haste. Yet one could say, "In thine I prize
The strength of calm that held in Mary's eyes."
And when they came, thy gracious smile so wrought
They knew that they were given, not that they bought.
Thou didst not tempt to vauntings, and pretence
Was dumb before thy perfect woman's sense.
Blest who have seen, for they shall ever see
The radiance of thy benignity.





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