"All honor to him who shall win the prize," The world has cried for a thousand years; But to him who tries, and who fails and dies, I give great honor and glory and tears: Give glory and honor and pitiful tears To all who fail in their deeds sublime; Their ghosts are many in the van of years, They were born with Time, in advance of their Time. Oh, great is the hero who wins a name, But greater many and many a time Some pale-faced fellow who dies in shame, And lets God finish the thought sublime. And great is the man with a sword undrawn, And good is the man who refrains from wine; But the man who fails and yet still fights on, Lo, he is the twin-born brother of mine. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARMY CORRESPONDENT'S LAST RIDE; FIVE FORKS, APRIL 1, 1865 by GEORGE ALFRED TOWNSEND THE PREACHER by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER WOMAN'S BEAUTY by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE AN EPISTLE TO CURIO by MARK AKENSIDE RAIN ON FALL NIGHTS by MILDRED TELFORD BARNWELL |