Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LAGGARDS, by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON


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THE LAGGARDS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Scorners of earth, you that have one foot shod
Last Line: On earth to raise the golden dust of heaven.


Scorners of earth, you that have one foot shod
With skyward wings, but are not flying yet,
You that observe no goal or station set
Between your groping and the towers of God
For which you languish, may it not be odd
And avericious of you to forget
Your toll of an accumulating debt
For dusty leagues that you are still to plod?

But many have paid, you say, and paid again;
And having had worse than death are still alive,
Only to pay seven fold, and seven times seven.
They are many; and for cause not always plain,
They are the laggards among those who strive
On earth to raise the golden dust of heaven.





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