 | The poetical works of Lucy Larcom |  |
69
THE SECRET.
What selfishness asked for
Was vain:
What came for that asking
Brought pain.
Was vain:
What came for that asking
Brought pain.
Heaven's manna in keeping
Was spoiled:
All beauty self-seeking
Hath soiled.
Was spoiled:
All beauty self-seeking
Hath soiled.
Complacency blazoned
Dull dross.
No gain came of hoarding,
But loss.
Dull dross.
No gain came of hoarding,
But loss.
Gain! none save the giver
Receives.
Yet who that old gospel
Believes?
Receives.
Yet who that old gospel
Believes?
Nor pauper nor beggar
Then be;
Nor niggard of bounty
Most free.
Then be;
Nor niggard of bounty
Most free.
But one way is Godlike,—
To give.
Then pour out thy heart's blood,
And live!
To give.
Then pour out thy heart's blood,
And live!
| The poetical works of Lucy Larcom | |