Left Behind

Two wo­men shall be grind­ing at the mill

Two men shall be at home on plain or hill;

Two women shall be work­ing in the field

Two men shall be in search of wealth con­cealed

But one shall be of hope at last be­reft—

One shall be tak­en and the oth­er left.

Two boys be sleep­ing in the self-same bed

On the same breast each leaned his ba­by head;

Two girls in so­cial cir­cles side by side

Two girls in learn­ing with each oth­er vied;

But one has thought of Him whose side was cleft

One shall be tak­en and the oth­er left.

Two sweet­hearts shall be laugh­ing by the way

Two tra­vel­ers meet­ing at the close of day;

Two fig­ures at an al­tar

side by side

One is a groom

the oth­er

blush­ing bride;

But when the veil that hides is rent and reft

One shall be tak­en and the oth­er left.

Two law­yers shall be por­ing o’er a brief

Two doc­tors seek­ing means to give re­lief;

Two faith­ful

trust­ed of­fi­cers of state

Two bank­ers at their desk—ear­ly and late;

But sin holds one by mill­stone weight and heft—

One shall be tak­en and the oth­er left.

Two sol­diers hear their coun­try’s call and go

Two tongues to tests of truth say yes

or no;

Two heads feel sun and rain which come to all;

Two souls shall hear God’s oft re­peat­ed call—

But when at last is wove life’s web and weft

One shall be tak­en and the oth­er left.