--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Townsend, Joseph L. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 9 number: 11 published: 1906-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Joseph L. Townsend, "The Poet’s Mission: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 9, no. 11 (September 1906): 893.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0911unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0911unse start_page: 893 end_page: 893 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1906-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0911unse publication_year: 1906 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1906, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Poet’s Mission: A Poem VOYAGE OF THE SHIP "BROOKLYN." 893 the diligent "Mormons" should be commended and encouraged to go ahead — as Canada and Mexico have encouraged them — and build up the waste places, make the desert fruitful, improve the country, make other valuable discoveries, etc., that peace on earth and good will to man may prevail. Pauilo, Hawaii (the end.) THE POET'S MISSION. (For the Improvement Era.) "What shall I write?" I asked the Muse. "So let thy words attune the heart, She aswered low and sweetly: That from them it may borrow "From ev'ry inspiration choose, Some joy of life, to ease the smart Interpret it discreetly. Of some one's deepest sorrow. "The song birds ev'ry year return ' 'So let thy faith bring happy things To sing again their chorus; That faith is ever bearing Though oft we hear, we cannot spurn And let thy hope bring offerings The music floating o'er us. Of hope to the despairing. "If thou canst, sing a low, sweet song "So let thy charity assuage Like one the finch is singing; The failings of a brother. Though but a voice within the throng And let thy love bring heritage It swells the chorus ringing. Of love for one another. " 'Tis not the loudest singing bird "The thoughts that live in after years, That has the greatest mission, The sentiment that lingers, The low, sweet song, less often heard, The songs that move the heart to tears, Yet makes one pause and listen. Were sung by humble singers." Payson, Utah. J. L. Townsend.