THE year begins. I turn the leaf, All over writ with good resolves; Each to fulfil will be in chief My aim while earth its round revolves. How many a leaf I've turned before, And tried to make the record true; Each year a wreck on Time's dull shore Proved much I dared, but little knew. Ah, bright resolve! How high you bear The future's hopeful standard on; How brave you start; how poor you wear; How soon are hope and courage gone! You point to deeds of sacrifice, You shun the path of careless ease; Lentils and wooden shoes? Is this The fare a human soul to please? What wonder, then, if men do fall Where good is ever all austere; While vice is fair and pleasant all, And turns the leaf to lead the year? Yet still once more I turn the leaf, And mean to walk the better way; I struggle with old unbelief, And strive to reach the perfect day. Why should the road that leads to heaven Be all one reach of sterile sand? Why not, just here and there, be given A rose to deck the dreary land? But why repine? Others have trod, With sorer feet and heavier sins, Their painful pathway toward their God -- My pilgrimage anew begins. Failure and failure, hitherto, Has time inscribed upon my leaves; I've wandered many a harvest through And never yet have gathered sheaves; Yet once again the leaf I turn, Hope against hope for one success; One merit-mark at least to earn, One sunbeam in the wilderness. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A RUNNABLE STAG by JOHN DAVIDSON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: SETH COMPTON by EDGAR LEE MASTERS HONEY DRIPPING FROM THE COMB by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY FOR AN ALLEGORICAL DANCE OF WOMEN (BY ANDREA MANTEGNA) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI CHRISTMAS, 1917 by BRENT DOW ALLINSON |