Life laid upon his forehead a caress And, smiling, gave him for his birthright dower, Humor and judgment, passion, purpose, power, And gifts of vision, pure and limitless: Then, -- for she ever tempers man's success, Nursing the canker in Earth's fairest flower, -- She added pain; and taught him, hour by hour, To know that only blessed which doth bless! So, following the Gleam from early youth, He lent a strengthening hand, and gave his heart, And aided feet, less sure than his, to climb: He sacrificed not others to his art, But worshipped beauty with unselfish truth, And lives, the well-beloved of his time! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PICKET-GUARD [NOVEMBER, 1861] by ETHEL LYNN BEERS THE VOICE by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON THE VOICE OF THE RAIN by WALT WHITMAN THE EAGLE SWIFT by ADAM OF SAINT VICTOR SONNET by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE ARGONAUTS (ARGONATUICA): MEDEA BETRAYED by APOLLONIUS RHODIUS THE ROBIN REDBREAST by MATHILDE BLIND THE LOVER TO HIS MISTRESS ON HER BIRTHDAY by THOMAS CAMPBELL |