Not to exclude or demarcate, or pick out evils from their formidable masses (even to expose them,) But add, fuse, complete, extend -- and celebrate the immortal and the good. Haughty this song, its words and scope, To span vast realms of space and time, Evolution -- the cumulative -- growths and generations. Begun in ripen'd youth and steadily pursued, Wandering, peering, dallying with all -- war, peace, day and night absorbing, Never even for one brief hour abandoning my task, I end it here in sickness, poverty, and old age. I sing of life, yet mind me well of death: To-day shadowy Death dogs my steps, my seated shape, and has for years -- Draws sometimes close to me, as face to face. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 38 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE CASTAWAY by WILLIAM COWPER THE RETIRED CAT by WILLIAM COWPER PIRATE STORY by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON ODE TO DUTY by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH SONNET: AT STRATFORD-UPON-AVON by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |