Purse and the Soul

By Meta L. Stern

(See page 250)

(In “The Comrade.”)

The soul doth sow and the purse doth reap
The purse doth feed while the soul doth weep—
Oh, such is the world’s strange way.

Power and honor the purse doth bring—
Worship of trader and priest and king
While souls are as cheap as clay.

O, such is the bitter way of life;
A way of unending toil and strife—
Our heritage but a curse.

So must it be till the knell we toll
Of senseless greed that gives to the soul
Less honor than to the purse.