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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
COMPENSATION, by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT Poet's Biography First Line: When gallant robins sing Last Line: That is the whole. | |||
When gallant robins sing Through loosened sweets of Spring, As you plod off to work, Wish not to change or shirk The day's routine, dear soul; But view the whole. When moon and stars shine bright Some night, some summer night, And weary, you must sleep And cannot vigil keep, Sigh not, alas! dear soul; But view the whole. When music's choirs complain In melancholy strain, -- "All beauty must decay, Let love then seize the day." Fear not such loss, dear soul; But view the whole. When pleasure bands you see As you go thoughtfully, Cast down by sin and woe, Long not their joy to know. Love thine own tears, dear soul, And view the whole. "What is the whole?" you ask, "The face within the mask?" That beauty's self you are, When ruled by duty's star. Not to enjoy, but be, dear soul, That is the whole. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CITY OF MILLS by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT A COMPOSER by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT A FIFTH AVENUE PARADE by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT A LANCASHIRE LOVER (AT THE UNDERTAKER'S) by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT A NOCTURNE by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT A TAPESTRY by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT AD MATREM by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT AFTER FORTY YEARS by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT AN ITALIAN SONNET-SEQUENCE: 1 by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT AN ITALIAN SONNET-SEQUENCE: 10 by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT |
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