Preparation

Effie Waller Smith 1879 (Pike County) – 1960



"I have no time for those things now," we say;
"But in the future just a little way,
No longer by this ceaseless toil oppressed,
I shall have leisure then for thought and rest.

When I the debts upon my land have paid,
Or on foundations firm my business laid,
I shall take time for discourse long and sweet
With those beloved who round my hearthstone meet;
I shall take time on mornings still and cool
To seek the freshness dim of wood and pool,
Where, calmed and hallowed by great Nature's peace,
My life from its hot cares shall find release;
I shall take time to think on destiny,
Of what I was and am and yet shall be,
Till in the hush my soul may nearer prove
To that great Soul in whom we live and move.

All this I shall do sometime but not now—
The press of business cares will not allow."
And thus our life glides on year after year;
The promised leisure never comes more near.

Perhaps the aim on which we placed our mind
Is high, and its attainment slow to find;
Or if we reach the mark that we have set,
We still would seek another, farther yet.

Thus all our youth, our strength, our time go past
Till death upon the threshold stands at last,
And back unto our Maker we must give
The life we spent preparing well to live.
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Submitted by halel on July 13, 2020

Modified on April 26, 2023

1:13 min read
20

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABB CCDDEEFFGGHH IIJJ KKLL MMNN
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,225
Words 244
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 12, 4, 4, 4

Effie Waller Smith

Effie Waller Smith was an African-American poet of the early twentieth century. Her published output consisted of three volumes of poetry: Songs of the Month, Rhymes From the Cumberland, and Rosemary and Pansies. Her poetry appeared in the publication Harper's Weekly and various regional newspapers. more…

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