The Lamp

Hast thou a lamp, a little lamp, 

Put in that hand of thine? 

And did He say, who gave it thee, 

"The world hath need this light should be;

Now, therefore, let it shine?"

And dost thou say, with bated breath, 

"It is a little flame; 

I'll let the lamps of broader wick 

Seek out the lost and cheer the sick, 

While I seek wealth and fame?" 

But on the shore where thy small house 

Stands dark, stands dark, this night, 

Full many a wanderer, thither tossed, 

Is driven on that rock and lost, 

Where thou hast hid thy light. 

Though but a candle thou didst have, 

Its trimmed and glowing ray 

Is infinite. With God, no light 

Is great or small, but only bright, 

As is his perfect day. 

Thou shalt not want for light enough

When earthly moons grow dim; 

The dawn is but begun for thee, 

When thou shalt hand, so tremblingly, 

Thy empty lamp to Him.

~ Sarah Pratt McLean Greene