Others sneer and turn aside.
Mother welcomes us with pride;
Over-boastful of us, too,
Glorying in all we do,
First to praise and last to blame,
Love that always stays the same,
Following us where'er we stray—
That is every mother's way.
She would grant us all we seek,
Give her strength where we are weak.
Beauty? She would let it go
For the joy we yearn to know.
Life? She'd give it gladly, too,
For the dream that we pursue;
She would toil that we might play—
That is every mother's way.
Not enough for her are flowers—
Her life is so blent with ours
That in all we dare and do
She is partner, through and through;
Suffering when we suffer pain,
Happy when we smile again,
Living with us, night and day—
That is every mother's way.
Life Needs Us All
There is so much that we can do—
A kind word spoken here and there
Will ease another's weight of care;
Life needs us all. The splendid few
Who rise to fame, with all their skill
Your post and mine can never fill.
If we who have not wealth or fame
Should fail in all our little deeds,
The world would sink beneath its needs.
Not by the greatness of a name,
Nor by the splendor of success,
Are hearts restored to happiness.
About us all are those who need
The gifts which we have power to give;
We can be friendly while we live
And by some thoughtful, kindly deed,
Can help another on his way—
And that is service, come what may.
What though we miss the heights of skill,
The splendor of the greater few,
There is so much that we can do;
There is a place which we can fill—
Always about us while we live
Are those who need what we can give.