ALL, that he came to give, He gave, and went again: I have seen one man live, I have seen one man reign, With all the graces in his train. As one of us, he wrought Things of the common hour: Whence was the charmed soul brought, That gave each act such power; The natural beauty of a flower? Magnificence and grace, Excellent courtesy: A brightness on the face, Airs of high memory: Whence came all these, to such as he? Like young Shakespearian kings, He won the adoring throng: And, as Apollo sings, He triumphed with a song: Triumphed, and sang, and passed along. With a light word, he took The hearts of men in thrall: And, with a golden look, Welcomed them, at his call Giving their love, their strength, their all. No man less proud than he, Nor cared for homage less: Only, he could not be Far off from happiness: Nature was bound to his success. Weary, the cares, the jars, The lets, of every day, But the heavens filled with stars, Chanced he upon the way: And where he stayed, all joy would stay. Now, when sad night draws down, When the austere stars burn: Roaming the vast live town, My thoughts and memories yearn Toward him, who never will return. Yet have I seen him live, And owned my friend, a king: All that he came to give He gave: and I, who sing His praise, bring all I have to bring. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CHILD'S PRAYER [OR, HYMN] by MATILDA BARBARA BETHAM-EDWARDS CORIDON'S SONG (IN ISAAK WALTON'S 'COMPLEAT ANGLER') by JOHN CHALKHILL DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON by HENRY LYNDEN FLASH BURIAL by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY THE QUAKER GRAVEYARD by SILAS WEIR MITCHELL TWELVE SONNETS: 6 by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |