The Idler

Jones Very 1813 (Salem) – 1880



I IDLE stand that I may find employ,
Such as my Master when He comes will give;
I cannot find in mine own work my joy,
But wait, although in waiting I must live;
My body shall not turn which way it will,
But stand till I the appointed road can find,
And journeying so his messages fulfil,
And do at every step the work designed.
Enough for me, still day by day to wait
Till Thou who formest me findest me too a task,
A cripple lying at the rich man’s gate,
Content for the few crumbs I get to ask,
A laborer but in heart, while bound my hands
Hangidly down still waiting thy commands.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

35 sec read
37

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABACDEAEFGFGHH
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 583
Words 119
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Jones Very

Jones Very was an American poet, essayist, clergymen, and mystic associated with the American Transcendentalism movement. more…

All Jones Very poems | Jones Very Books

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