Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

IV. Sabbath: Worship: Creed

What was his Creed?

Anonymous

“Religion relates to life, and the life of religion is to do good.”—SWEDENBORG.

HE left a load of anthracite

In front of a poor woman’s door,

When the deep snow, frozen and white,

Wrapped street and square, mountain and moor.

That was his deed.

He did it well.

“What was his creed?”

I cannot tell.

Blessed “in his basket and his store,”

In sitting down and rising up;

When more he got, he gave the more,

Withholding not the crust and cup.

He took the lead

In each good task.

“What was his creed?”

I did not ask.

His charity was like the snow,

Soft, white, and silent in its fall;

Not like the noisy winds that blow

From shivering trees the leaves,—a pall

For flowers and weed,

Drooping below.

“What was his creed?”

The poor may know.

He had great faith in loaves of bread

For hungry people, young and old,

Hope he inspired; kind words he said

To those he sheltered from the cold.

For we should feed

As well as pray.

“What was his creed?”

I cannot say.

In words he did not put his trust;

His faith in words he never writ;

He loved to share his cup and crust

With all mankind who needed it.

In time of need

A friend was he.

“What was his creed?”

He told not me.

He put his trust in heaven, and he

Worked well with hand and head;

And what he gave in charity

Sweetened his sleep and daily bread.

Let us take heed,

For life is brief.

What was his creed—

What his belief?