REWARD OF SERVICE

 

REWARD OF SERVICE

“Reward Of Service” is an inspirational poem by the English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She was born on 6 March 1806 and died on 29 June 1861. She was the wife of English romantic poet and playwright Robert Browning(1812-1889). Elizabeth was popular both in England and United States.

            The word service in the poem is not used as paid work, employment, labour or duty but deeds of selfless help to others who deserve and need it. Here there is no monetary reward, or praise  but other non-material rewards which are generated by love “which ennobles all.”

            The poem reads as below:

“The sweetest lives are those to duty wed,

Whose deeds both great and small

Are close-knit strands of an unbroken thread,

Where love ennobles all.

The world may sound no trumpets, ring no bells,

The Book of Life the slurring record tells.

 

Thy love shall chant its own beatitudes,

After its own like working. A child’s kiss

Set on thy singing lips shall make thee glad;

A poor man served by thee shall make thee rich;

A sick man helped by thee shall make the strong;

Thou shalt be served thyself by every sense

Of service which thou renderest.”

                        Let us repeat the lines:

“A poor man served by thee shall make thee rich;

A sick man helped by thee shall make thee strong;”

                                    *************

G.R.Kanwal

20 December 2023