And here, in this old book, we find discussed The themes we choose today: business and toil, Knowledge and fame, weariness born of moil, Daydreams of youth, visions of love and lust; Whether it pays to work that one may live, Whether it pays to live, if work is all; How one may think great thoughts in one room small, How one may gain great wealth, if he but give; Here one may learn the foolishness of pride, The curse of gold; and here are saintly prayers For high celestial joys: by mystic stairs These old philosophers and poets tried To burst the doors of heaven, as do we -- And as they will who after us shall be. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TUNK (A LECTURE ON MODERN EDUCATION) by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SONG FOR THE FIRST OF THE MONTH by DOROTHY PARKER NICHARCHUS UPON PHIDON HIS DOCTOR by EZRA POUND FOUR QUARTETS: BURNT NORTON by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT ODE TO BEAUTY by RALPH WALDO EMERSON THE COW IN APPLE TIME by ROBERT FROST |