Category: Poetry
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Opportunity
With doubt and dismay your are smitten You think there’s no chance for you, son? Why, the best books haven’t been written The best race hasn’t been run, The best score hasn’t been made yet, The best song hasn’t been sung, The best tune hasn’t been played yet, Cheer up, for the world is young!…
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Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.…
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Invictus
Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and…
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Botany
There should be no monotony In studying your botany; It helps to train And spur the brain– Unless you haven’t got any. It teaches you, does Botany, To know the plants and spot any, And learn just why They live or die– In case you plant or pot any. You learn, from reading Botany, Of…
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The Joy of Life
The Joy of Life by Berton Braley: I’d rather risk gamely And lose for my trying Than grind around tamely –A cog in the mill. I’d rather fail greatly With courage undying Than plod on sedately With never a thrill! The game’s in the playing And, losing or winning, The fun’s in the essaying Your…
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MacDonough's Song
Whether the People be led by the Lord, Or lured by the loudest throat; If it be quicker to die by the sword Or cheaper to die by vote— These are the things we have dealt with once, (And they will not rise from their grave) For Holy People, however it runs, Endeth in wholly…
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Man
Weak and puny, small and frail, Helpless he with tooth or nail, In a world of fang and claw Where sheer power makes the law. Into battle he had gone With the shaggy mastodon, With the cruel beasts of prey Snarling in their lust to slay, Thirsting for the taste of blood; He has fought…
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Why Not?
Why shouldn’t the soul of a mortal be proud? Life goes, it is true, like a swift-flying cloud But while it is going and ere he has died A man may do many things worthy of pride The high and the humble, the meek and the brave, Are all of them destined in time for…
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Just Anti-social
We’ve loaded him with a lot of taxes And rules and codes but there’s something funny; In spite of the way his burden waxes The son-of-a-gun is making money! Whenever he’s given a boost to trade We’ve taken an extra tribute off it, But still the villain is undismayed, The son-of-a-gun has shown a Profit!…
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The thinker
Back of the beating hammer By which the steel is wrought, Back of the workshop’s clamor The seeker may find the Thought, The Thought that is ever master Of iron and steam and steel, That rises above disaster And tramples it under heel! The drudge may fret and tinker Or labor with lusty blows, But…