I hold it the duty of one who is gifted And specially dowered in all men's sight, To know no rest till his life is lifted Fully up to his great gifts' height. He must mold the man into rare completeness, For gems are set only in gold refined. He must fashion his thoughts into perfect sweetness, And cast out folly and pride from his mind. For he who drinks from a god's gold fountain Of art or music or rhythmic song Must sift from his soul the chaff of malice, And weed from his heart the roots of wrong. Great gifts should be worn, like a crown befitting! And not like gems in a beggar's hands. And the toil must be constant and unremitting Which lifts up the king to the crown's demands. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN IMITATION OF SPENCER by JOHN ARMSTRONG MON REPOS (MY MOTHER'S GIRLHOOD HOME) by ALFRED BARRETT AUTUMN WEATHER by KATHARINE LEE BATES TORRISMOND; AN UNFINISHED DRAMA by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES EPITAPH ON THE TOMBSTONE OF A CHILD, LAST OF SEVEN THAT DIED BEFORE by APHRA BEHN |