# Go Work in My Vineyard explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

## What happens

The narrator describes a divine call to labor in the Lord's vineyard, gathering the bruised grain left by reapers. Despite initial pain and weariness, a dream reveals the need to help the fallen and wounded. The task becomes sacred, and the narrator finds peace and hope that even broken offerings will be precious to God.

## Themes in this chapter

### Resilience and Sacrifice

The narrator persists in the painful task of gathering bruised grain, sacrificing personal comfort for divine service.

### Hope and Redemption

The broken sheaves are seen as precious in God's sight, and the mists vanish before His smile, promising light at eventide.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The speaker who hears the Lord's call, labors in pain, and finds divine purpose in gathering the bruised grain.

### Christ

The Lord who commands the work in the vineyard and whose smile brings light at eventide.

## Key lines

> Go work in my vineyard, said the Lord, And gather the bruised grain; But the reapers had left the stubble bare, And I trod the soil in pain.

The Lord commands me to labor in his vineyard, collecting the damaged grain that the harvesters left behind, and I walk the field in suffering.

_The opening lines establish the divine call and the painful reality of the task._

> My hands were weak, but I reached them out To feebler ones than mine, And over the shadows of my life Stole the light of a peace divine.

Though my own strength was small, I extended help to those even weaker, and a heavenly peace quietly illuminated the darkness of my existence.

_The narrator finds peace through helping others despite personal weakness._

> And when the reapers shall lay their grain On the floors of golden light, I feel that mine with its broken sheaves Shall be precious in His sight.

When the harvesters present their full crops in the heavenly threshing floor, I believe my humble, broken offering will also be valued by God.

_The narrator expresses hope that even imperfect service is accepted by God._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters/go-work-in-my-vineyard
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters