LIFE LIVED WELL

ON THE BRINK OF MY LIPS IS AN EARNEST PRAYER


THAT TOMORROW IN LIFE HOWEVER I MAY FARE

AND PUT YOU TO ME WHATEVER TEST,

JUST GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO GIVE IT MY BEST.



THE WIND THAT BLOWS SHOULD ALSO SAY

THAT I WAS JUST TO WHAT CAME MY WAY,

AND THE NIGHTINGALE OF THE NIGHT,

AND THE CUCKOO, THE BIRD OF SPRING’S NEW LIGHT

SHOULD SING AND TELL

THAT WHATEVER I DID, I DID WELL



SHOULD THE LIFE’S MISLEADING ADVENTURE PATHS COME,

AS I KNOW THEY WILL

AND SHOULD LIFE’S TRUDGE ALL SEEM UPHILL,

LET THE UNREST AND PAIN ALL SEEM SWEET,

AND THE GRINDING BE SO TILL WORK’S COMPLETE.



SO MUCH SO THAT THE SUN SHOULD SAY,

ITS HEAT ALSO DID NOT BEAR ME DOWN ON THE WAY,

AND THE MOUNT SHOULD ALSO BE IN THE KNOW,

OF THE TOIL AND SWEAT OF THE BROW.



FOR WHEN THE SUN’S GOLDEN RAYS ARE SPENT

THE AUTUMN SET AND THE BACK IS BENT,

ALTHOUGH THERE MAYBE NO MEDALS TO BE WORN

AND THE MERITS OF MY WORK TO BE SHOWN,

THE WORK I DID SHOULD LIVE ON,

TO BE SHOWN TO ALL AFTER MY TIME BORN,

SO MUCH SO THAT GOD SHOULD ALSO COME TO SAY,

THAT HERE WAS A GIRL, WHO MADE HER OWN WAY,

ACROSS VALLEY, CANYON, RIDGE, RIVER AND HILL,

HERE’S A LIFE THAT HAS BEEN LIVED WELL