Poems (Argent)/Millicent
MILLICENT.
"Thou cam'st not to thy place by accident; It is the very place God meant for thee."
IT is not yours to wield the penAnd touch with fire the minds of men,To colour with rich rainbow gleamsThe world wherein fair fancy dreams; To mould in form the thoughts that dwellDeep in the soul invisible.
It is not yours to sit and paintThe pictured glory of the saint,To wander in the halls of ArtWith all an artist's yearning heart,To charm the eye with visions brightFrom dazzling fields of ideal light.
It is not yours to find a voiceWhere music dwells, and doth rejoiceThe many millions,—nor to bringMelodious echoes when you sing,And claim the memory that boundsThe senses by sweet spirit sounds.
But it is yours, my child, to beA silent song, that sings to meIn angels' music from the sphereWhere only God perchance may hear;For blinded eyes upon this earthSee not the wings of heavenly birth:
And, loving Millicent of mine,Yours is the priceless gift divine,To minister to others' needsIn holy sacrament of deeds;To shine with pure and steadfast rayIn darkest night and dullest day;
To tend the poor, the sick and sad,To soothe and make earth's sufferers glad,To bless and comfort and sustainThe patient lives that know but pain.O this is yours to do—and beAn angel in God's ministry!
To listen kindly to complaint,Hold up the steps of those who faint.'Neath rugged step and tortuous aisleOf hearts that sicken for a smile:And with a woman's soft caressBestow on all your tenderness.
To nurse the children pale who comeFrom crowded street and city home,With poor wan cheeks and hollow eyesAnd agonizing moans and criesTo lay a cooling finger tipOn feverish brow and parched lip.
To gather from the outside coldThe lambs that wander from the fold,And with unerring instinct guide,Once more those truants to the sideOf the Good Shepherd who doth speakIn gentlest accents to the weak.
The poet's and the artist's skillHave their great mission to fulfil, But yours is greater (so it seems),Reality instead of dreams!You have your place as it was meantBy God, and not by accident!