And here, in this old book, we find discussed The themes we choose today: business and toil, Knowledge and fame, weariness born of moil, Daydreams of youth, visions of love and lust; Whether it pays to work that one may live, Whether it pays to live, if work is all; How one may think great thoughts in one room small, How one may gain great wealth, if he but give; Here one may learn the foolishness of pride, The curse of gold; and here are saintly prayers For high celestial joys: by mystic stairs These old philosophers and poets tried To burst the doors of heaven, as do we -- And as they will who after us shall be. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET WRITTEN IN THE FALL OF 1914: 4 by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY THE VILLAGE MUNITIONS CO., INC.; FORMERLY THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS A RECEIPT FOR WRITING A NOVEL by MARY (CUMBERLAND) ALCOCK THE SINGERS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) THE JUDGMENT by KATHARINE LEE BATES WHY NOT? (WITH APOLOGIES TO WILLIAM KNOX) by BERTON BRALEY |