Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE POET'S JOURNAL: SQUANDERED LIVES, by BAYARD TAYLOR


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THE POET'S JOURNAL: SQUANDERED LIVES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The fisherman wades in the surges
Last Line: And we to his wisdom are blind
Alternate Author Name(s): Taylor, James Bayard
Subject(s): Fish & Fishing; Life; Sailing & Sailors; Soldiers


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





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