HABITS. 



"How shall I a habit break?" 

 As you did that habit make. 

 As you gathered, you must lose; 

 As you yielded, now refuse. 

 Thread by thread the patient hand 

 Till they bind us, neck and wrist; 

 Thread by thread the paitent hand 

 Must untwine ere free we stand. 

 As we builded, stone by stone, 

 We must toil unhelped, alone, 

 Till the wall is overthrown. 

 But remember, as we try, 

 Lighter every test goes by; 

 Wading in. the stream grows deep 

 Toward the center's downward sweep; 

 Backward turn, each step ashore 

 Shallower is than that before. 

 Ah, the precious years we waste 

 Leveling what we raised in haste! 

 Doing what must be undone 

 Ere content or love be won! 

 First across the gulf we cast 

 Kite-borne threads, till lines are passed 

 And habit builds the bridge at last! 



JOHN BOYLE O'REILLY 



