The play is unannounced; no prologue's word
Gives hint of scene, or voices to be heard;
We may be called with tragedy to rage,
In comedy or farce we may disport,
With feverish melodrama we may thrill,
Or in a pantomimic role be still.
We may find fame in field, or grace a court,
Whate'er the play, forthwith its lines will start,
And every soul, in cloister or in mart,
Must act, and do his best from day to day—
So says the prompter to the human heart.
"The play's the thing," might Shakespear's Hamlet say.
"The thing," to us, is playing well our part.
EPILOGUE
Walking in the Way
To hold to faith when all seems dark
to keep of good courage when failure follows failure
to cherish hope when its promise is faintly whispered
to bear without complaint the heavy burdens that must be borne
to be cheerful whatever comes
to preserve high ideals
to trust unfalteringly that well-being follows well-doing
this is the Way of Life
To be modest in desires
to enjoy simple pleasures
to be earnest
to be true
to be kindly
to be reasonably patient and ever-lastingly persistent
to be considerate
to be at least just
to be helpful
to be loving
this is to walk therein.
Charles A. Murdock