To those who meekly bear the yoke.

Not by strange sudden change and spell,

Baffling and darkening Nature’s face;

Thou takest the things we know so well

And buildest on them thy miracle,—

The heavenly on the commonplace.

The lives which seem so poor, so low,

The hearts which are so cramped and dull,

The baffled hopes, the impulse slow,

Thou takest, touchest all, and lo!