Mine and Thine (1904)/To Poverty

For other versions of this work, see To Poverty.

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Mine and Thine (1904) by Florence Earle Coates To Poverty

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TO POVERTY

Pale priestess of a fane discredited,  Whose votaries to-day are few or none;  Goddess austere, whose touch the vulgar shun, As they would shrink from a Procrustes bed, Hieing to temples where the feast is spread,  And life laughs loudly, and the smooth wines run;  Wise mother!—least desired 'neath the sun, At thy chill breasts the noblest have been fed. Great are thy counsels for the brave and strong;  Yet do we fear thy brooding mystery, The griefs, the hardships, which about thee throng,  The scanty garners where thy harvests be; But seeing what unto the rich belong,  We know our debt, O Poverty, to thee!