  Heaven is not reached by a single bound, But we build the ladder by which we rise From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies, And we mount to its summit, round by round. I count this thing to be grandly true, That a noble deed is a step towards God, Lifting the soul from the common clod To a purer air and a fairer view. We rise by the things that are ’neath our feet; By what we have mastered of good; and gain And the vanquished ills that we hourly meet. We hope, we aspire, we resolve, we trust, When the morning calls to life and light; But our hearts grow weary, and ere the night Our lives are trailing the sordid dust. We hope, we resolve, we aspire, we pray; And we think that we mount the air on wings Beyond the recall of earthly things, While our feet still cling to the heavy clay. Wings are for angels, but feet for men! We may borrow the wings to find the way; We may hope, and resolve, and aspire, and pray, But our feet must rise or we fall again. Only in dreams is a ladder thrown From the weary earth to the sapphire walls; But the dreams depart and the ladder falls, And the sleeper wakes on his pillow of stone. Heaven is not reached at a single bound, But we build the ladder by which we rise From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies, And we mount to its summit round by round. —Josiah Gilbert Holland. A right thought is as a true key. |
|
