Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A SONG OF YOUNG CHRISTIANS, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A SONG OF YOUNG CHRISTIANS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: With a scoff for the old and a shout for the new
Last Line: As the young grow old, serving god.
Subject(s): Christianity


With a scoff for the old and a shout for the new, --
It is thus that the young serve God;
Reaching out for the bold, reaching up for the true,
With an eager, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"
With the shallower view and the broader view;
And the eye that sees roses but never sees rue; --
It is thus that the young serve God.

With a zeal that is more for the start than the close, --
It is thus that the young serve God;
With courage that counts not the number of foes,
Looking more to the blows than the purpose of blows,
Lance equally tilting for substance and shows,
And head that aye "knows somewhat more than it knows"; --
It is thus that the young serve God.

But their prudence, God bless them! will grow with their years,
As the young grow old, serving God;
Soon enough will they seek the sad ambush of fears,
Their vision look deep through the well of their tears
And cynicwise back of the form that appears,
While Failure derides and Misanthropy leers,
As the young grow old, serving God.

Oh, young Man of Galilee, aye a young man,
That never grew old, serving God; --
Not the young with their follies are under Thy ban,
But the hearts that are seared, and the timid, whose plan
Weakly tries to do only the things that it can!
Their feet Thou wilt guide, and their zeal Thou wilt fan,
As the young grow old, serving God.





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