 | Jones Very : The Complete Poems |  |
The Poor Clergyman
Long had Christ's servant preached the word of truth,And labored in the vineyard of his Lord;
But gone his strength, his manhood, and his youth,
And age had come;—but what was his reward?
Men had forgot the laborer; rich had grown,
And added house to house, and land to land;
The truth he preached forgot, or never known;
Like those who heard, but did not understand.
Perhaps, neglected, in some poorhouse he
Might linger out his days, they never knew;
Or homeless roam in bitter poverty,
While they each day, and year the richer grew;
The riches of this world to them were given,
To him the treasure that's laid up in heaven!
Poem No. 320; c. 13 December 1870
| Jones Very : The Complete Poems | |