MARK the cross upon thy brow, Take thy way with faith and will, Cleave thy right hand to the plough, Toil thou on with strength and skill Take thou counsel with thy God, Ask not if the toil be light, Ask not who the road have trod, Ask thou but if it be right. Be not slave to thy good name: It is well thy kind to please. Dear are love and praise and fame, But the truth is more than these. Be not slave to thy good name: So thy life be brave and true, What to thee is worldlings' blame? Have they knowledge what they do? Let them blame thee, shall their words Have such power thy soul to shake? Wilt thou take them for thy lords? They are dreaming, thou, awake. Let them praise thee, little worth Is their praise thy mind to move: He who rules the restless earth Looks unblinded from above. Heed them not, but pass thy way, Striving to be truly great:. Guide thy steps by wisdom's ray, Careful, yet unfearing fate. Yet, doubt not, that noble minds Shall note with love thy stedfast tread; Weaker, whom poor envy blinds, Know thy worth when thou art dead. Doubt it not, so shall thy soul Glad thine age with inward youth. Go thou on to thine high goal, On in love and might and truth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE AND DEATH by SARA TEASDALE NIGHT, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE COUNTRY FAITH by NORMAN ROWLAND GALE CENTENNIAL MEDITATION OF COLUMBIA by SIDNEY LANIER SONG (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI SYSTEM by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON VERSES OCCASIONED BY THE SUDDEN DRYING UP..ST.PATRICK'S WELL by JONATHAN SWIFT |