He built his monumental work br On the rocks of his pithy philosophy: br ‘Work Builds; Charity Destroys.’ br Whenever the tempest of time blows across br He feels no loss – br His work stands unaffected; br Self-reliance he has perfected. br To those poor palms br Fated to seek alms br A few tools he gave, br Their spirits to save, br And they carved out br The beauty of self-dignity br From what was first their self-pity, br Their disability, br Their poverty, br Their agony! br In the desert of leprosy br He sowed seeds of sympathy, br Seeds of empathy, br And grew the garden of ability, br Of energy, br Of prosperity. br He knew that charity br Could feed the hungry. br But he also knew that it could br Also inflict injury. br But work could make one worthy, br Could make one really happy. br He gave no charity; br He gave opportunity; br He decried self-pity; br He admired dignity.