Lodge St. Andrew #518

An old man going along a lone highway
Came at the evening, cold and gray
To a chasm, vast, deep and wide
Through which was flowing a sullen tide
The old man crossed in the twilight dim
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.

Old man, said a fellow pilgrim near,
You are wasting your strength in building here
Your journey will end with the passing day
And never again will you pass this way
You've crossed the chasm, deep and wide
Why build you this bridge at eventide ?

The builder lifted his gray, weary head
Good friend, in the path I`ve come
There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way
This chasm that has been naught for me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be
He too must cross in the twilight dim
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.

By Will Allen Dromgoole.

© 2008 Lodge St. Andrew #518