Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO MR. FORBES-ROBERTSON: 23. THE FEAR OF BEING GREAT, by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO MR. FORBES-ROBERTSON: 23. THE FEAR OF BEING GREAT, by                    
First Line: The fear of being great is what keeps men
Last Line: Can understand what living truly is.
Subject(s): Fear; Greatness; Men


The fear of being great is what keeps men
Forever little both in mind and soul,
And many a man with talents more than ten
Has dared not try to reach the mighty's goal.
The coward thought has gripped them in its hold,
The fear that genius is of different clay,
That God Who fashioned broke its spirit's mould
When one such soul was sent upon its way,

Oh, we who view the world with older eyes,
Should shout this truth from housetops everywhere,
And tell our youth that he who really tries
The ripe fruits of true greatness will he share.
And that this fear of which I've spoke in rhyme
Is foolish, vain, and speaks of cowardice,
And only those who rise to heights sublime
Can understand what living truly is.





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