Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WISDOM, by ROBERT POLLOCK


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WISDOM, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Wisdom is humble, said the voice of god
Last Line: Of men who with the vulgar scorn'd to sit.
Alternate Author Name(s): Pollok, Robert
Subject(s): Wisdom


WISDOM is humble, said the voice of God.
'Tis proud, the world replied. Wisdom, said God
Forgives, forbears, and suffers, not for fear
Of man, but God. Wisdom revenges, said
The world, is quick and deadly of resentment,
Thrusts at the very shadow of affront,
And hastes, by death, to wipe its honour clean.
Wisdom, said God, loves enemies, entreats,
Solicits, begs for peace. Wisdom, replied
The world, hates enemies, will not ask peace,
Conditions spurns, and triumphs in their fall.
Wisdom mistrusts itself, and leans on heaven,
Said God. It trusts and leans upon itself,
The world replied. Wisdom retires, said God,
And counts it bravery to bear reproach,
And shame, and lowly poverty, upright;
And weeps with all who have just cause to weep.
Wisdom, replied the world, struts forth to gaze,
Treads the broad stage of life with clamorous foot,
Attracts all praises, counts it bravery
Alone to wield the sword, and rush on death;
And never weeps, but for its own disgrace.
Wisdom, said God, is highest, when it stoops
Lowest before the Holy Throne; throws down
Its crown, abased; forgets itself, admires,
And breathes adoring praise. There wisdom stoops,
Indeed, the world replied, there stoops, because
It must, but stoops with dignity; and thinks
And meditates the while of inward worth.
Thus did Almighty God, and thus the world,
Wisdom define: and most the world believed,
And boldly call'd the truth of God a lie.
Hence, he that to the worldly wisdom shaped
His character, became the favourite
Of men, was honourable term'd, a man
Of spirit, noble, glorious, lofty soul!
And as he cross'd the earth in chase of dreams,
Received prodigious shouts of warm applause.
Hence, who to godly wisdom framed his life,
Was counted mean, and spiritless, and vile;
And as he walk'd obscurely in the path
Which led to heaven, fools hiss'd with serpent tongue,
And pour'd contempt upon his holy head,
And pour'd contempt on all who praised his name
But false as this account of wisdom was,
The world's I mean, it was his best, the creed
Of sober, grave, and philosophic men,
With much research and cogitation framed,
Of men who with the vulgar scorn'd to sit.






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