A Child of the People And Other Poems. By James Chapman Woods |
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 | A Child of the People |  |
130
FOR YOU.
“If he keep pure in will,
Crown him a victor still.”
Crown him a victor still.”
For you, and not for me
You wrote; be yours the palm as yours the lay.
Somewhere the jubilee
Shall sound some day.
You wrote; be yours the palm as yours the lay.
Somewhere the jubilee
Shall sound some day.
This day-long life men live,
Measures the man by its own paltry rule;
But the Immortals give
Marks to the school.
Measures the man by its own paltry rule;
But the Immortals give
Marks to the school.
Then, when the gods are judge,
We first shall learn where the first honour lies
At least, I shall not grudge
You the first prize.
We first shall learn where the first honour lies
At least, I shall not grudge
You the first prize.
I would not pay my debt
With scant praise of a song; 'tis good to owe
So strike no balance yet;
The debt shall grow.
With scant praise of a song; 'tis good to owe
So strike no balance yet;
The debt shall grow.
131
Yet, take this scentless spray
From a poor posy, fain to yield its due,
That had not known a May
Except for you;
From a poor posy, fain to yield its due,
That had not known a May
Except for you;
And though it last no hour,—
True type therein of all these songs of mine,—
Not less let its white flower
Speak for a sign.
True type therein of all these songs of mine,—
Not less let its white flower
Speak for a sign.
| A Child of the People | |