TO A GREAT EDITOR by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS

In every human life, however filled
With obvious proofs of wisdom and of good,
The vaster part is void to minds unskilled
In sense of things less seen than understood;
And they who know you only by the things
That you have done, or suffered to be done,
Know you not, Alden, in the inmost springs
Of soul that rather shun than seek the sun;
Poet, more poet for beauty than for fame,
Sage for the sake of being, not seeming wise,
Preacher of truth, and not of praise or blame,
Critic whose law inspires as well as tries,
You who have deepened and enlarged your day,
You shall remain when it has passed away.

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...