Poem October 28, 1961 Issue

HE WHO BY WISDOM

Ecclesiastes 9:14, 15

Pearl Strachan Hurd

Silently grows
Iris in courtyard.
Silently rose
Unfurls on briar.
Nobody knows
Who had the wisdom
Or the desire
To save the city.
Without any shrill
Demand for attention
Pine trees on hill
Attain dimension.
When besieging king
Advanced on few,
And what came next
Nobody knew—
Ah! None could fill
The place of one
Whose love and pity
Had made him wise.
His name, his rank,
Not written down,
Who by his wisdom
Delivered a town;
Who vitalizes
Now the deed
Of quiet ones
Alert to need.