Poems (Hoffman)/Defects

by Martha Lavinia Hoffman

DEFECTS

The surface of polished metal
Is marred by a speck of rust,
And a lily's pure, white petal
Is stained by a touch of dust,
And the white bird's wings are spotted
Should he trail them once in the fen,
And the clear, white page is blotted
By one careless turn of the pen;

The sculptor's work uplifted
By a hasty stroke is defaced,
And the work of years is rifted
By a moment's careless haste;
The purest in form or color
Is spoiled by a line, a stain,
In the more imperfect and duller
Defects do not show so plain.

Then learn that the mind's bright metal
Is marred by a touch of rust,
Then dip not thy soul's white petal
Once low in the mire and dust,
And trail not thy wings so spotless
In the murky depths of the fen;
Would the page of thy life be blotless,
Then write with a careful pen.

For the character slowly erected
May be crushed by a hasty blow,
And the symmetry years have perfected
One moment may lay it low,
And the world that with look upgazing
Has stared at thy stainless name,
Perhaps with no word of praising,
Will cover thy past with blame.