Thou dost not know it! but to hear <br />One word of praise from thee, <br />There is no pain I would not bear, <br />No task too great for me. <br /> <br />My hands could tireless toil all day, <br />My feet could tireless run, <br />If at the close thy lips would say, <br />'Brave, noble heart, well done.' <br /> <br />* * * * * <br /> <br />Thou dost not know it! but to win <br />Approval from thine eyes, <br />My soul has conquered many a sin, <br />And conquering neared the skies. <br /> <br />And though the reward may not be given, <br />In all my earthly days, <br />I feel that after death, in heaven, <br />Thy lips will give me praise. <br /> <br />* * * * * <br /> <br />Thou dost not know, may never know, <br />That all I strive to be, <br />All things praiseworthy that I do, <br />I strive, and do, for thee. <br /> <br />And though I seldom see thy face, <br />Or touch thy hand, my friend, <br />Those meetings are the means of grace, <br />That help me to the end. <br /> <br />* * * * * <br /> <br />Thou dost not know that thy grand life <br />Has been my beacon light. <br />I aim to conquer in the strife, <br />That I may reach thy height. <br /> <br />I strive to live, so that my feet <br />May walk the fields most fair, <br />For the after-life, seems, oh! so sweet, <br />Because thou wilt be there. <br /> <br />* * * * * <br /> <br />Thou dost not know how brave and strong <br />A woman's heart can be. <br />But few could hide so well and long <br />What mine has hid from thee. <br /> <br />So well, that should this idyl chance <br />To meet thine eye, my friend, <br />Thou'd scan it with a careless glance, <br />Nor dream to whom 'twas penned.<br /><br />Ella Wheeler Wilcox<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/thou-dost-not-know/
