Endure

by Achsa White Sprague

Strikes it coldly on the heart --
Endure, endure, be what thou art?
Never bend beneath the load,
Never falter on the road,
Onward, proudly, through the strife,
'Tis the corner-stone of life;
Make your happiness secure,
Endure, endure, endure, endure!

Age on age must pass away
Ere earth saw the light of day;
Age on age must come and go
Ere she saw her waters flow;
Age on age be long gone by,
Life on life must live and die,
Ere her work was strong and sure,
Equal to endure, endure.

Nation after nation rise,
Standing, pointing to the skies,
Giving place to others still,
In the Father's mighty will;
Race by race must pass away,
Leaving naught to point the way,
Ere the soul is strong and pure,
Ready to endure, endure.

Trials dark must come and go
Ere the soul can learn to know
Of its powers to strive with wrong,
Hoping, waiting, working long.
Hope by hope must pass away,
Sorrows come to dim the day,
Ere the soul is strong and sure,
Powerful to endure, endure.

Let it be thy pass-word strong
While you wrestle with the wrong,
Write it deep within thy heart,
It will help to bear thy part;
Hold it surely in thy hand
When before a foe you stand,
And thy soul shall be secure,
Always ready to endure.