Robert Frost

God's Garden

God made a beatous garden

With lovely flowers strown,

But one straight, narrow pathway

That was not overgrown.

And to this beauteous garden

He brought mankind to live,

And said: 'To you, my children,

These lovely flowers I give.

Prune ye my vines and fig trees,

With care my flowerets tend,

But keep the pathway open

Your home is at the end.'

Then came another master,

Who did not love mankind,

And planted on the pathway

Gold flowers for them to find.

And mankind saw the bright flowers,

That, glitt'ring in the sun,

Quite hid the thorns of av'rice

That poison blood and bone;

And far off many wandered,

And when life's night came on,

They still were seeking gold flowers,

Lost, helpless and alone.

O, cease to heed the glamour

That blinds your foolish eyes,

Look upward to the glitter

Of stars in God's clear skies.

Their ways are pure and harmless

And will not lead astray,

Bid aid your erring footsteps

To keep the narrow way.

And when the sun shines brightly

Tend flowers that God has given

And keep the pathway open

That leads you on to heaven. 

Robert Frost