The Winding Stairs, No I

The Winding Stairs, No I. [No. 45]

Up long-gone Winding Stairs, methinks, I see
The Ancient Craftsmen boldly make their way
Into the Middle Chamber, feeling they
Full well deserved Reward. For Masonry
Claims Good for All whate’er their Station be, 5
So that their Work be Useful. They who plann’d
The Building of the temple; they who scann’d
The Stones when dress’d; and they whose Industry
Hew’d, squared or fixed each in its proper place,
Had shekels, or shared Corn and Wine and Oil. 10
No Useful Labour ever yet could soil
The Soul of Man: and nothing can efface
The Image of our Maker there, if we
Will Build our temple with true Masonry.

By George Markham Tweddell  1st published 1887