An old man, going a lone highway, Came at the evening, cold and grey, To a chasm vast and deep and wide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim, The sullen stream had no fear for him; But he turned when safe on the other side, And built a bridge to span the tide. "Old man", said a fellow pilgrim near, "You are wasting your strength when building here Your journey will end with the ending days; You never again will pass this way. You've crossed the chasm, deep and wide, Why build you this bridge at eventide?" The builder lifted his old, grey head; "Good friend, in the path I have come," he said, "There followeth after me to-day, A youth whose feet must pass this way. This chasm, that has been as nought to me, To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be; He, too, must cross in the twilight dim - Good friend, I have build this bridge for him."
- Anonymous
- Anonymous