THE MEASURE by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 12, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 49.

THE MEASURE.

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning

[He “comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure.” Isa. 40:12. “Thou . . . givest them tears to drink in great measure.” Ps. 80:5.]

God, the Creator, with a pulseless hand Of unoriginated power, hath weighed The dust of earth and tears of man in one Measure and by one weight, So saith his Holy Book.

Shall we, then, who have issued from the dust, And there return—shall we, who toil for dust, And wrap our winnings in this dusty life, Say: “No more tears, Lord God; The measure runneth o’er”?

O Holder of the balance, laughest thou? Nay, Lord, be gentler to our foolishness For His sake who assumed our dust, and turns On thee pathetic eyes Still moistened with our tears.

And teach us, O our Father, while we weep, To look in patience upon earth, and learn, Waiting in that meek gesture till, at last, These tearful eyes be filled With the dry dust of death! —Elizabeth Barrett Browning.