Poems (Barker)/For What Are You Waiting

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For What Are You Waiting.
For what are you waiting, my brother?As you journey through life's vale of tears,You are wasting the glorious sunshine,In youth it most brightly appears;O! why stand you idle and waiting?Your hands have a work to perform,The Master will come, are you ready,And sheltered from every rude storm?
For what are you waiting, my sister?The journey is toilsome and long,What have you accomplished to brightenThe path for the numberless throng.All of them your brothers and sisters,And heirs to their six feet of sod;All erring and wandering and failingYet journeying onward to God.
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For what are you waiting, my sister?The great things in life may not beThe star that so brightly shall glistenFor you o'er the mystical sea.There are deeds to be done without waitingEach day in the journey of life,And the heart that looks after the small thingsIs the one that aids most in the strife.
For what are you waiting, my sister?The morning to you dawneth bright;O! work while the day is before you,You soon may be buried in night.Reach out to the fallen and faintingA hand ever ready to aid,Speek softly and cheeringly to themBut never in coldness upbraid.
For what are you waiting, my brother?I see you are waiting in vain,While others are working in patienceAnd reaping and binding the grain.O! when it is gathered, and emptyYou stand by the wide open gate,While others are carrying the bundlesYou will murmur, "O! why did I wait?
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For the Father keeps watch o'er His childrenAnd he knows who have brought in the grain,His voice will be sad when he tells you"I fear you have waited in vain."O! go while the harvest is readyAnd work with a hearty good will;The eyes of companions are on you,Why alone are you idle and still?
For what are you waiting, my brother?He who would be first in his place,And join in the song of the workers,Drinks deep at the fountain of grace.Go aid in the work that's before you,Perchance you'll be hindred by rain,Lest when by the gate He will tell you,"I fear you have waited in vain,"
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