Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PARTING OF THE WAYS, by JOSEPH BENSON GILDER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PARTING OF THE WAYS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Untrammelled giant of the west
Last Line: Be godlike in the will to serve!
Subject(s): Cuba


UNTRAMMELLED Giant of the West,
With all of Nature's gifts endowed,
With all of Heaven's mercies blessed,
Nor of thy power unduly proud --
Peerless in courage, force, and skill,
And godlike in thy strength of will, --

Before thy feet the ways divide:
One path leads up to heights sublime;
The other downward slopes, where bide
The refuse and the wrecks of Time.
Choose then, nor falter at the start,
O choose the nobler path and part!

Be thou the guardian of the weak,
Of the unfriended, thou the friend;
No guerdon for thy valor seek,
No end beyond the avowed end.
Wouldst thou thy godlike power preserve,
Be godlike in the will to serve!





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