Poems (Hoffman)/The End of Living

by Martha Lavinia Hoffman

THE END OF LIVING

Could I but trace one star of hope
On Heaven's high scroll, on Fear's cloud omen
Through Faith and Reason's telescope,
Life's darkened future to illumine;

Could I but stamp one fadeless thought,
On everything in God's creation;
Could I but teach one lesson taught,
To kindle nobler aspiration;

Could I but write one living truth
On human hearts to glow forever,
The zeal of manhood, age and youth
Inspiring with a new endeavor.

I'd write in starry rays, I'd blend
The one great hope that's worth the giving,—
Dust unto dust is not the end,
But life to life the end of living.

Dust unto lower dust consigned,
Life unto higher life ascending;
The past—forever left behind,
The future, vast—unending.

Behold the crowds of earth pass by,
One common groveling aim pursuing;
To strive, to gain, to love, to die,
One hour the plans of years undoing.

Poisoning souls and intellects,
That but immortal food can nourish,
On thought's decay and love's frail wrecks,
On hopes and aims that stand and perish.

What shall it profit us if we,
Whose hopes and longings are immortal,
Gather each fragile flower we see,
To wither at the future's portal?

Did the great Source of Life intend,
That death should end its noblest striving?
No; dust to dust is not the end,
But life to life the end of living.

The best success of time to make,
Should be our lives' supreme endeavor;
And teach these jarring chords to wake
The prelude of the vast forever.

Listen, oh myriads of mankind!
The eternal anthem rolls before us;
Soon will Time's prelude die behind,
Drowned in the still increasing chorus.

Height unto height the notes ascend,
Glory to glory ever weaving;
Dust unto dust is not the end,
But life to life the end of living.