Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE GIFT OF WISDOM, by CARROLL RYAN Poet's Biography First Line: My spirit bids defiance to decay Last Line: The gift of wisdom ere I left the earth. Alternate Author Name(s): Ryan, William Thomas Carroll Subject(s): Death; Immortality; Wisdom; Dead, The | ||||||||
My spirit bids defiance to decay. I am not old. This body may grow weak, Its senses fail and all its wondrous powers Collapse and sink in death, but I will rise Immortal o'er the ruin and ascend To join the host invisible to men Sojourning here. As I have thought and toiled To make myself fit for the company Of god-like souls of those whom you call dead, But who, I know, are living grand and free In spheres transcendent, so I hope to be Translated on my merits. If I've failed In my high purpose, self-conquest, victory O'er sordid things, low passions, mean desires, Ambition for a place in men's esteem, To that extent of failure I must share The company of others like myself. But there I will be satisfied, because I know with kindred spirits I would be, And go on striving, as I did on earth, To rise to higher things. For wisdom I Have prayed and, like the sage of ancient days, I found that wisdom is increase of sorrow. But in that sorrow was a secret balm, Laid on my heart in one swift flash of light When I stood face to face with God alone. For one ecstatic moment, Lo! the veil, Which hides the mystery of life was drawn, And the great deep to its remotest bound Was all revealed. My sorrow is no more; I have no fear. I know, for I have seen The orb ineffable, and am content. Misfortune now may come, the tempest rage, Pain, sorrow, suffering, the scorn of men, Hunger and poverty, aye, Death itself, O'erwhelm this mortal. I can bear them all, Because I know their meaning and their end. And when the time for my departure comes, I'll cast away this robe of flesh, and rise Triumphant in the love that gave to me The gift of wisdom ere I left the earth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY |
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