Classic Poem

Hard is devotion, — like a pit of fire.
To enter such a whirlpool, is that not hard?
Hard is devotion, — hard as a poison draught;
It seems the soul must e'en despair of it.
Hard is devotion, hard indeed is it,
As the sword's sharpened edge, which who may bear?
Hard is devotion, — such has Jani proved it.
Yet through devotion and the fellowship
Of saintly souls the goal may be attained.