Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BALLAD OF THE FOUR YOUTHS, by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BALLAD OF THE FOUR YOUTHS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A youth to the hilltop glanced and said
Last Line: With nothing but love to gain.
Subject(s): Adolescence; Youth; Teen Agers


A YOUTH to the hilltop glanced and said,
"The summit's the place for me,
And day by day I shall force my way
To the height that I dimly see.
And nothing shall charm me to turn aside,
And nothing shall turn me back—
Not even a heed for another's need
Or care for another's lack.

"For there're very few folk on the hilltop,
And millions of men below—
When a man would reign, what's a little pain?
It isn't his pain, you know!"

A youth to the hilltop glanced and said,
"There is room at the top. I see,
In this crowded race, 'tis the only place
For a sensitive chap like me!
When the people learn of my just desert
They'll bring me the gilded car,
Which is all I need to attain with speed
The place where the laurels are.

"For there're very few folk on the hilltop,
And nothing at all to do,
'Twill be quite my line just to sit and shine
And praise the extensive view!"

A youth to the hilltop glanced and said,
"I crave for the purer air
And the bright light and the wider sight
And the peace which is found up there!
I shrink from the roar of the market-place
And the folk that I mix with here—
I am rare and fine and my soul can't shine
In so murky an atmosphere.

"For there're very few folk on the hilltop,
The crowd you can leave by the way,
And to worship art as a thing apart
Is to be of a finer clay."

A youth to the hilltop glanced and said,
"I'll aim for the highest seat,
But how fine 'twould be could I take with me
The dozens of friends I meet!"

But he never sat in the seat he craved,
For he wasted time on a song,
And he cleared the road and he bore a load
For a traveller not so strong.

For there're very few folk on the hilltop,
And millions of men on the plain,
And another's need interferes with speed,
With nothing but love to gain.





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