Bridge Builder

An old man was going along this way

Came in 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 fears for him

But he turned when safe on the other side

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,

"You're wasting your time by building here.

You never again will pass this way.

Your journey will end with the closing day.

You have crossed the chasm deep and wide.

Why build on this bridge at eventide?"

The builder lifted his old grey head.

"Good friend, in this way I've come," he said

There followeth after me today

A youth whose feet must pass this way

This stream that been naught to me

To that fair-headed youth might a pitfall be,

He too must cross in the twilight dim,

Good friend, I'm building this bridge for him."