Man Of Today

For thee he thought,         The Greek, who by the sea         Lay in his lithe-limbed grace, as dreamily         He gazed upon the sky begemmed with stars,         And pondered mysteries. Ah, few the bars         To stop that lofty spirit in its flight         Compared with those that lock our souls in night.         For thee he thought!         For thee he wrought,         The Tyrian, who of old         His rich web wove of purple dye and gold;         Whose little bark, outstanding many a storm,         To ruder lands the spirit and the form         Of Eastern culture bore. Ah! what we owe         To him today, let sage and poet show.         For thee he wrought!         For thee he fought!         The Saxon, who upheld         The freedom of our race; whose broad-ax felled         Imperial legions in the forest dim         Where loud his war-cry rang - a noble hymn         For manhood's victory over regal pride,         On the sad day when mighty Varus died.         For thee he fought!         For thee He taught!         The Nazarene who bore         The burden of the world, who by the shore         Of Galilee His words of wisdom spake         Whose life a pattern for our life we'd take,         Whose words, re-echoing to remotest time,         Shall lead us on toward a height sublime.         For thee He taught!         Man - man! thou heir of all the ages, thou,         Man of today! uplift thy drooping brow!         Think, work, fight, teach - thine heritage pass on         Tenfold increased. He'll reap who has foregone         Life's little, limited delights, - in measure         As selfless he has sown his earthly treasure.