The Bridge Builder

An old man walking a lonesome road
Came at the evening cold and grey
To a chasm vast wide and deep
With waters running cold and deep.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim
The rolling stream had no fears for him,
But he turned when safe on the other side
And he built a bridge to span that tide.

Old man said a fellow traveler near
You're wasting your strength with building here
Your journey will end with the passing day
You'll never again going to pass this way
You've crossed the chasm deep and wide
Why build you this bridge at even tide
The builder lifted his old grey beard and said
Good friend, in the path that I have come he said
There follows after me today
Youth whose feet must pass this way
The chasm that was not for me
To that fair head youth be a pitfall be
He too must cross in the twilight dim good friend
I'm building this bridge for him
-Author Unknown