Front Cover

 

 

Poetry and Essays
of
Mrs. Ida May Roberts

 

Compiled by
Stephen Eskew
2013

 

THORNS AND FLOWERS

 

A reaper in the fields of life

I hastened forth to be

But others gathered the beautiful flowers

And left the thorns to me.

 

I turned aside and weeping asked

"Are thorns the object of my quest?"

A voice replied: "Yea gather these"

What God appoints is best.

 

Then meekly I obeyed and found

Each thorn a priceless gem

With bleeding hands I wove a wreath

And lo! a sparkling diadem.

 

The glorious wreath of flowers bright

All perished in a day,

Before the scorching summer heat

They all were swept away.

 

My crown composed of thorns and tears

Transformed by hands divine;

Doth now outshine the stars above,

And will forever shine.

 

--Mattoon, Kentucky, October 19, 1903.

 

Source:  Crittenden Press. (Marion, Ky.), October 22, 1903, Image 9 - Chronicling America - The Library of Congress.

 

Back Cover