THE fisherman wades in the surges; The sailor sails over the sea; The soldier steps bravely to battle; The woodman lays axe to the tree. They are each of the breed of the he-roes, The manhood attempered in strife: Strong hands, that go lightly to labor, True hearts, that take comfort in life. In each is the seed to replenish The world with the vigor it needs, -- The centre of honest affections, The impulse to generous deeds. But the shark drinks the blood of the fisher; The sailor is dropped in the sea; The soldier lies cold by his cannon; The woodman is crushed by his tree. Each prodigal life that is wasted In manly achievement unseen, But lengthens the days of the coward, And strengthens the crafty and mean The blood of the noblest is lavished That the selfish a profit may find; But God sees the lives that are squandered, And we to His wisdom are blind | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FIRST FRUITS IN 1812 [AUGUST 19, 1812] by WALLACE RICE CIRCUS AT NIGHT by MADELEINE AARON PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 34. AL-'AZIZ by EDWIN ARNOLD CONTENT; WRITTEN OFF ITHACA by ALFRED AUSTIN BEATRICE by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE TO ROBERT BURNS; AN EPISTLE ON INSTINCT by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES |