Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, YOUTH, by SAMUEL VALENTINE COLE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

YOUTH, by                    
First Line: Thou, in that golden time whose other name
Last Line: Thyself the man the world needs most to see!
Subject(s): Youth


THOU, in that golden time whose other name
Is opportunity, dost thou not know,
Has no one ever told thee, of thy claim?
Thou art the heir, for heaven hath made thee so;
All things are thine; look up, and thou shalt see:
Sun, moon, and stars are bowing down to thee,
Making obeisance, as in Joseph's dream;
For thee it is that waters roll, stars shine,
Voices arise by lonely hill and stream,
Friendly monitions, whisperings divine;
For thee do Ariels sing; and where the walls
'Twixt the two worlds are thinnest, in the air
Come momentary gleams—the sheen that falls
As from no earthly garments ever: there,
With heaven's power and blessing to bestow,
The holy Presences pass to and fro.

All possibilities are in thy hand,
All powers thine to summon and command,
And all for this: that thou, made brave of heart,
Daring to seem not other than thou art,
Mightst follow thine ideal, not the show
Of what hath in it aught of base or low,
But thine own best ideal, till thou be
Thyself the man the world needs most to see!





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