Patience, yet one little hour,
Pale, unloved, uncourted flower,
Seeing not the sun;
Patience,– heart of depth and duty,
Yearning for the smiles of beauty,
Never catching one:
Patience,– martyr following faintly,
Gentle nun, serene and saintly,
Kneeling in the dust;
Oh not vain thy long-enduring!
Still with meekest might securing
Triumph to thy trust!
Hushing every mutter’d murmur,
Tranquil Fortitude the firmer
Girdeth thee with strength;
While, no treason near her lurking,
Patience, in her perfect working,
Shall be Queen at length.
And, behold! thy pious daring
Is a glorious crown preparing
For thine own sweet brow;
Precious pearls of softest lustre
Shall with brightest jewels cluster
Where the thorns are now!
Faith and Patience! sister, brother,–
Lean in love on one another,
Calm for good or ill:
Comforted by surely knowing
That the Ruler is bestowing
Strength in sitting still!
O ye virgin spirits wasting,
O ye hearts of thousands, hasting
Darkly to decay,
Through the blight of disappointment,–
Tenderly, with precious ointment
Lull those cares away;
Tenderly, with wise beguilings,
Court sweet Patience for her smilings
On that ruin drear;
Soon, with other sister graces,
Shall she make your hearts and faces
Laugh away their fear:
Self-Contentment, bright-eyed Duty,
Faith in his archangel beauty,
Joy, and Love sublime,
Follow,– Patience, where thy finger
Gently beckons Hope to linger
On the wrecks of time!
(Martin Farquhar Tupper)
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