The Builders Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

All are architects of Fate,
         Working in these walls of Time;
Some with massive deeds and great,
         Some with ornaments of rhyme.

Nothing useless is, or low;
         Each thing in its place is best;
And what seems but idle show
         Strengthens and supports the rest.

For the structure that we raise,
         Time is with materials filled;
Our to-days and yesterdays
         Are the blocks with which we build.

Truly shape and fashion these;
         Leave no yawning gaps between;
Think not, because no man sees,
         Such things will remain unseen.

In the elder days of Art,
         Builders wrought with greatest care
Each minute and unseen part;
         For the Gods see everywhere.

Let us do our work as well,
         Both the unseen and the seen;
Make the house, where Gods may dwell,
         Beautiful, entire, and clean.