Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LINES WRITTEN IN AN ALBUM, by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LINES WRITTEN IN AN ALBUM, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: What shall I wish him? Strength and health
Last Line: May even as his grandsire be!
Subject(s): Grandchildren; Grandsons; Granddaughters


WHAT shall I wish him? Strength and health
May be abused, and so may wealth.
Even fame itself may come to be
But wearing notoriety.

What better can I ask than this? --
A life of brave unselfishness,
Wisdom for council, eloquence
For Freedom's need, for Truth's defence,
The championship of all that's good,
The manliest faith in womanhood,
The steadfast friendship changing not
With change of time or place or lot,
Hatred of sin, but not the less
A heart of pitying tenderness
And charity, that, suffering long,
Shames the wrong-doer from his wrong:
One wish expresses all -- that he
May even as his grandsire be!





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