PRATE not to me of weaklings, who Lament this life and naught achieve. I hymn the vast and valiant crew Of those who have scant time to grieve; Firm-set their fortunes to retrieve, They sing for luck a lusty stave, The world's staunch workers, by your leave, -- This is the ballade of the brave. Wan women, steel to staggering blows; White souls from many a nether place; The humble heroes and the foes Of sham; the hunters of the base. The men with missions in their face, The clan who straighten, heal and save; The young who think each card an ace, -- This is the ballade of the brave. Those who with stingless laugh and jest Sweeten the labor; those who stake Their all on some sky-reaching quest, Unconquerable for conscience' sake; The warriors who a last stand make, Though loss o'erwhelm them, wave on wave; Smiling, the while their hearts do break, -- This is the ballade of the brave. Brothers, it is a heavenly stake Ye play for, goodlier than the grave; Then play it well, for God's sweet sake, -- This is the ballade of the brave! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LAMP OF LIFE by AMY LOWELL EPIGRAMS: BOOK I, 1 by MARCUS VALERIUS MARTIALIS THE GREENWOOD SHRIFT; GEORGE III AND A DYING WOMAN IN WINDSOR FOREST by ROBERT SOUTHEY VENETIAN BLIND by HELEN DARBY BERNING THE COMPLETE MISANTHROPIST by MORRIS GILBERT BISHOP BOOKS FOR THE PEOPLE by ANNE CHARLOTTE LYNCH BOTTA CLIFF DWELLER LYRICS: ANY HOUSEWIFE'S LAMENT by BERTON BRALEY |