Awaking to See and Do

Once I was far in thought of what I’d be, Yet conflicted that too far was I to be anybody. But a hope sprung forth when I saw the need Of hope in the hopeless whose pain all have seen; I rose out of a daydream state like a man from a stupor, Popping my bubble for my eyes to see the horror; How should I ignore the worm named hunger? Or the jaws of cold; he devours the unclothed? There is a way I shall walk to succeed in my vision, Where strangers shall be touched by love’s gentle touch; Though recall I must a Proverb which has arisen, “Desire without knowledge is not good,” says the Judge. So instruction I need; knowledge, wisdom and fourth, humility, To reach a higher education far from foolish ignorance; For to give, receiving is done first, and to teach, I’ve to learn much; With apathy I will falter unless I become a fire-heart scholar. And what, I ask myself, what am I to do after education? Ah, business with the nations is a future concerned with me; A striving to multiply wealth through wealth of my comprehension, Yes, this is the path for me; I cannot, like a rat, go flee. She that is docked for good is useless unless, unless Her merchant fills her with treasures of the earth; His trade will slay the worm, jaws of cold, and hope’s darkness; That merchant of nations, I care to be, before the earth devours me!