Page:The Soul of a Century.djvu/50



Green star above, in Zenith’s heights, Shine cheerfully from afar. From time to time, I stop to think What dear old friends we are.

’Twas years ago, you heard me shout In a mirthful, joyous whirl, When for the first time I embraced A sweet and lovely girl.

’Twas years ago you saw my face Turn deathly pale one night, When to my lips I raised and kissed Her dead cold hand, in fright.

These are just fragments out of life, Just bubbles in life’s streams. From time to time, in course of years, Man thinks of them and dreams.

We’ll live through sorrow and through joys, We’ll live through all, some how. Why does this sudden tear appear When nothing pains me now?

My People, raise your head on high Toward the heavens direct your glance Behold that there are little stars Around which, the large ones dance.

Here’s the reason why: The little ones Are made of solid knotty stuff, While those great, big, obedient stars Are made of flimsy gaseous fluff.

I trust that as you grasp this thought Your heart will leap and yearn. Yes let us be the little star Around which, the big ones turn.

It can be done, if each of us, Sees to his own sound stock. If each of us be hard as flint, Our nation will be hard as a rock.