Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WHO IS CONTENT?, by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WHO IS CONTENT?, by                    
First Line: Who is content? Surely not I
Last Line: The sluggard? Yes,—he is content.
Subject(s): Grief; Sorrow; Sadness


Who is content? Surely not I.
My surging soul seems to command
That I with Pegasus should fly
And reach some high and noble land
Where mountains rise and torrents swell,
Where giants build and nought is small,
Where genii of learning dwell,
Where thought is might, and love is all.

Who is content? Not he who holds
That God intended man to tear
Aside the veil which He enfolds
Around each blessing He would share,
Who holds that man was born to reign
O'er earth supreme, by God's decree,
And that he has the strength to gain
Dominion over land and sea.

Who is content? Not he who flies
On yonder graceful, bird-like wings,
Who mounts and rises towards the skies,
And in exultant triumph sings,
His conquest of the boundless air
Contents him not; his hope is set
On goals which only reckless dare,
The unattainable as yet.

Who is content? Not those who seek
The germs of pestilence and death,
Which rob the bloom from manhood's cheek,
And steal away the infant's breath.
Contentment never will be theirs
Until disease and mortal pain
And miseries to which we're heirs
Are all dispelled and none remain.

Who is content? The sluggard? Yes,
The man who loves his rest and ease,
The man who yearns not to possess
The things which do the mighty please.
The man who leans and does not lift,
The man who is indifferent,
The man who with the tide doth drift,
The sluggard? Yes,—he is content.





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