WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE RACE?
What is the future of the race?
I asked a little brook.
It laughingly replied to me
“I cannot stop to look.”
Then next I asked a gray old tree,
It shook with laughter too.
“Go ask the river, it may give
An answer unto you.”
The river stopped upon its course,
And unto me it said,
“Go ask the ocean, it is wise
And I shall soon him wed.”
The ocean seemed with anger filled,
But unto me replied,
“I have no time for foolish speech,
Do not delay my tide.”
The wind, in answer to my plea
A moment paused, to say,
“Go ask the sphinx, perhaps she knows,
And will your fears allay.”
I asked the sphinx, she seemed to smile,
I started back aghast;
She seemed to speak, I heard these words,
“I only know the past.”
I bowed before the placid stone,
And begged to know the past.
“The present is enough for you,
With all its questions vast.”
O tell me of the past I beg!
O do not it withhold
Sometime the future I shall know
It will to me unfold.
“O man why seekest thou to know
The future, or the past?
The present is enough for you,
If not with clouds o’er cast.”
The mountains seemed to pity me,
The clouds shed showers of tears,
The sun looked down in reverence,
And said: “Allay your fears,”
“For there’s a power that rules mankind,
E’er has and ever will.
The future, and the past, are His,
Are governed by His will.”
Then gazing at the works of God,
My thoughts seemed trivial, small,—
Why should I worry o’er the race?
When God is over all.