The Gift

I said to Life, “How comes it,

With all this wealth in store,

Of beauty, joy, and knowledge,

Thy cry is still for more?

“Count all the years of striving

To make thy burden less,—

The things designed and fashioned

To gladden thy success!

“The treasures sought and gathered

Thy lightest whim to please,—

The loot of all the ages,

The spoil of all the seas!

“Is there no end of labor,

No limit to thy need?

Must man go bowed forever

In bondage to thy greed?”

With tears of pride and passion

She answered, “God above!

I only wait the asking,

To spend it all for love!”