THE woodman in clearing the forest Labors with patience and skill; Swinging the axe with his brawny arms, And strength of a dauntless will. No towering tree in the woodland Is felled by a single blow— By countless strokes it totters and falls To the sounding earth below. The axe and the wedge and heavy maul Are plied by a master hand, Till out of the gloom and the shadow Emerges the new cleared land. The world is a forest before us— We hew our way to the light, With the axe and wedge of power and skill Fearlessly wielded aright. Obstructions barring our progress By repeated blows are felled, Till the sunlight smiles in approval, The darkness and gloom dispelled. We must ne'er look back to the starting, Nor swerve to the left or right, But work with resolute arm and will, Hewing our way to the light. |