O THOU who lovest not alone The swift success, the instant goal, But hast a lenient eye to mark The failures of th' inconstant soul, Consider not my little worth, -- The mean achievement, scamped in act, The high resolve and low result, The dream that durst not face the fact. But count the reach of my desire. Let this be something in Thy sight: -- I have not, in the slothful dark, Forgot the Vision and the Height. Neither my body nor my soul To earth's ease will yield consent. I praise Thee for my will to strive. I bless Thy goad of discontent. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INDIAN SUMMER by EMILY DICKINSON ON THE SOUL by PUBLIUS AELIUS HADRIANUS A HINT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD SATIRE OF JUVENAL by PHILIP AYRES CHOICE OF EXIT by WILLIAM ROSE BENET THE FRATERNAL DUEL by MATILDA BARBARA BETHAM-EDWARDS FAMILIARITY by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |