In every human life, however filled With obvious proofs of wisdom and of good, The vaster part is void to minds unskilled In sense of things less seen than understood; And they who know you only by the things That you have done, or suffered to be done, Know you not, Alden, in the inmost springs Of soul that rather shun than seek the sun; Poet, more poet for beauty than for fame, Sage for the sake of being, not seeming wise, Preacher of truth, and not of praise or blame, Critic whose law inspires as well as tries, You who have deepened and enlarged your day, You shall remain when it has passed away. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: BARNEY HAINSFEATHER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS IN HOSPITAL: 21. ROMANCE by WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 49 by PHILIP SIDNEY THE ANGRY ONES by BERTON BRALEY THE DHOON by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN OLD AND NEW; THE CENTURY ASSOCIATION, 1847-1897 by WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER |