A More Excellent Way

What's the goal of all this striving,
Gain for hollow cheek and eye,
What for our contriving
In the heart and home of central peace surviving
By-and-by?

See the shrivelled lips of learning
'Peck the rose-red cheek of Love;
Intellect discerning
Curious things, and looking earthward, never turning
Up above.

As the stars in darkness shining
Give us promise of the day,
To the day resigning
Each its single brightness, knowledge needs inclining
To Love's way.

H.M.