Genius, that power which dazzles mortal eyes, Is oft but perseverance in disguise. Continuous effort of itself implies, In spite of countless falls, the power to rise. 'Twixt failure and success the print's so fine, Men sometimes know not when they touch the line; Just when the pearl is waiting one more plunge, How many a struggler has thrown up the sponge! As the tide goes clear out it comes clear in; In business 'tis at turns, the wisest win; And, oh, how true when shades of doubt dismay, "'Tis often darkest just before the day." A little more persistence, courage, vim, Success will dawn o'er failure's cloudy rim. Then take this honey for the bitterest cup; There is no failure, save in giving up. No real fall, so long as one still tries, For seeming set-backs make the strong man wise. There's no defeat, in truth, save from within; Unless you're beaten there, you're bound to win. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME by STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER ABYSS by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS A NET TO SNARE THE MOONLIGHT by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY CHRISTMAS AT SEA by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON HUNTING: EPILOGUE. TO HAVE A FAITHFUL FRIEND by JULIANA BERNERS TO THE BELGIANS by LAURENCE BINYON |