When the apostle to the Gentiles wrote
His ode to love he said what love is not,
But first of all its virtues, most to note,
He cited patience, which the world forgot.
And when hee came to recon up the fruits
Vouchsafed to those whose birth is from above,
Here too, of all the outward attributes
,Patience was foremost as the sign of love.
Patiennce is waiting till the time has come
To act, then acting strongly, acting with respect
While creatures grow and till the Lord shall coome
,While doing what we can, without neglect.
Measure your love with patience as the rod,
Patience with self, with others and with God.