Lo -- to the battle-ground of Life, Child, you have come, like a conquering shout, Out of a struggle -- into strife; Out of a darkness -- into doubt. Girt with the fragile armor of Youth, Child, you must ride into endless wars, With the sword of protest, the buckler of truth, And a banner of love to sweep the stars. . . . About you the world's despair will surge; Into defeat you must plunge and grope -- Be to the faltering, an urge; Be to the hopeless years, a hope! Be to the darkened world a flame; Be to its unconcern a blow -- For out of its pain and tumult you came, And into its tumult and pain you go. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE INEBRIATE by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM THE EMPEROR'S BIRD'S-NEST by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE SPIRIT OF POETRY by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW DEAD MAN'S DUMP by ISAAC ROSENBERG FRED ENGLEHARDT'S BABY by CHARLES FOLLEN ADAMS THE PASSERS BY by AL-RADI BILLAH LYRICS AND EPICS by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |