Each man is but a shell Wherein a soul doth dwell. Now some in worldly vanity Adorn the shell in brilliancy; Forget with equanimity The soul's potentiality. But others much more wise decide To dress the shell with justly grace, Though never trying to efface The worth of that inside. There is another still Who, of all the three, Has the better will. He teaches all a lesson. How? I will extol. He pays much more attention To dressing up the soul. This by kindly word and act; By tolerance and tact; By admitting charity For all humanity. He knows the shell's foredoomed To sure decay entombed. He knows each soul must walk in night, Must last until the morning light, To gain eternally God given permanency. Each soul must then be clothed well Or perish like the foredoomed shell. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TACT by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: JULY by EDMUND SPENSER THE VOYAGE OF MAELDUNE by ALFRED TENNYSON SONNET: EUTERPE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH SONNET: 2 by RICHARD BARNFIELD PSALM 133 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |