Classic Poem

The people listened, with short, indrawn breath,
And eyes that were too steady set for tears
This one man's speech rolled off great loads of fears
From every heart, as sunlight scattereth
The clouds; hard doubts, which had been born of death,
Shone out as rain-drops shine when rainbow clears
The air. " O teacher, " then I said, " thy years,
Are they not joy? Each word that issueth
From out thy lips, doth it return to bless
Thy own heart many fold? "
With weariness
Of tone he answered, and almost with scorn,
" I am, of all, most lone in loneliness;
I starve with hunger treading out their corn;
I die of travail while their souls are born. "