John McCrae (Джон Маккрей)

Recompense


I saw two sowers in Life’s field at morn,
To whom came one in angel guise and said,
”Is it for labour that a man is born?
Lo: I am Ease. Come ye and eat my bread!”
Then gladly one forsook his task undone
And with the Tempter went his slothful way,
The other toiled until the setting sun
With stealing shadows blurred the dusty day.

Ere harvest time, upon earth’s peaceful breast
Each laid him down among the unreaping dead.
”Labour hath other recompense than rest,
Else were the toiler like the fool,” I said;
”God meteth him not less, but rather more
Because he sowed and others reaped his store.”

John McCrae’s other poems:

  1. The Oldest Drama
  2. The Warrior
  3. The Dying of Pere Pierre
  4. The Shadow of the Cross
  5. Equality

Poems of other poets with the same name (Стихотворения других поэтов с таким же названием):

  • Ella Wilcox (Элла Уилкокс) Recompense (“Straight through my heart this fact to-day”)

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