John Banister Tabb

1845-1909

 

Earth's Tribute

by John Banister Tabb

First the grain, and then the blade --
The one destroyed, the other made;
Then stalk and blossom, and again
The gold of newly minted grain.

So Life, by Death the reaper cast
To earth, again shall rise at last;
For 't is the service of the sod
To render God the things of God.

Source:

Poems
Copyright 1894
John Lane, LondonCopeland and Day, Boston