The Happy Fatalist (Poem by Duncan Campbell Scott)

The Happy Fatalist

By Duncan Campbell Scott

We plough the field,

And harrow the clod,

And hurl the seed.

Trust for trust:

The germ yields,

The wheat brairds,

We gather the sheaf,

Deed for deed:

The stubble moulds,

The chaff is cast,

Dust for dust:

The man is worn,

His days are bound,

But his labor returns,

The child learns

Round for round:

The god is astir,

Firm and free,

Weaving his plan,

Swelling the tree,

Bracing the man:

All is for good,

Sweet or acerb,

Laughter or pain,

Freedom or curb:

Follow your bent,

Cry life is joy,

Cry life is woe,

The god is content,

Impartial in power,

Tranquil — and lo!

Like the kernels in quern,

Each in turn,

Comes to his hour,

Nor fast nor slow:

It is well: even so.