 | Uncollected poems and prose of Edwin Arlington Robinson |  |
FORTUNATUS
Be as you are; your story is all told,
And all without the cost of augury.
Nothing in years, nothing in chance or fate,
May dent the mail of your complacency.
And all without the cost of augury.
Nothing in years, nothing in chance or fate,
May dent the mail of your complacency.
Be as you are, and always as you are;
Grope for no more than may be requisite.
You are among the chosen of the world
Who serve it best when unaware of it.
Grope for no more than may be requisite.
You are among the chosen of the world
Who serve it best when unaware of it.
For while you see it as it never was,
Your ministration will not be in vain;
You will ameliorate the mystery
Somewhat in seeing so little to explain.
Your ministration will not be in vain;
You will ameliorate the mystery
Somewhat in seeing so little to explain.
You will not see the drama of dead lives
That are behind calm faces and closed doors;
You will not feel the weight of heavy chains
That others wear that you may not wear yours;
That are behind calm faces and closed doors;
You will not feel the weight of heavy chains
That others wear that you may not wear yours;
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You will not hear the breathing of the beast
That has been history since there was man;
And seeing not much that need be different,
You will not wonder why it all began.
That has been history since there was man;
And seeing not much that need be different,
You will not wonder why it all began.
You will not have to see how small a place
Will be enough to make of you a king;
You will have all there is for you to use,
And having little will have everything.
Will be enough to make of you a king;
You will have all there is for you to use,
And having little will have everything.
| Uncollected poems and prose of Edwin Arlington Robinson | |