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 | Poems by William Wetmore Story |  |
[VII. Yes, thrift is very good. Respect to men of thrift]
Yes, thrift is very good. Respect to men of thrift!
They stick to solid facts, and let the dreamer drift.
They stick to solid facts, and let the dreamer drift.
The earth their mother is, their heart unto her clings,
And since they live with her why should they covet wings?
And since they live with her why should they covet wings?
They find in common life a present task to do,
The distant and the dim let idle poets woo.
The distant and the dim let idle poets woo.
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Yet out of earth alone was no man ever made.
The imagination gives the very soul to Trade.
The imagination gives the very soul to Trade.
The merchant schemes and dreams, with magic numbers plays,
On speculation's wings he threads through fortune's maze.
On speculation's wings he threads through fortune's maze.
Across the pathless deep his ships like shuttles fly,
And weave together lands by needs and luxury.
And weave together lands by needs and luxury.
With astrologic faith he on the stars relies,
And ventures all his wealth to shifting winds and skies.
And ventures all his wealth to shifting winds and skies.
He trusts a needle's point, a few weak planks and chart,
To bring an Eastern spice into a Western mart.
To bring an Eastern spice into a Western mart.
What faith in things unseen! Hath any poet's dreams
More fancy than your plain and sober merchant's schemes?
More fancy than your plain and sober merchant's schemes?
| Poems by William Wetmore Story | |