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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FAILURE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: This shall abide, and this, and this shall grow
Last Line: And least reward shall make the mightier soul!
Alternate Author Name(s): Maurice, Furnley


'THIS shall abide, and this, and this shall grow
Upward, and touch perfection,' says the soul;
She works her Dream on Life's perpetual scroll,
She toils the withering heights the Great Men know,
Upward and on till the rewarding glow
Of Fame is almost hers -- but thunder wakes
Out of the depth, an awful fiat breaks:
'Thus far, and no foot farther shall ye go!'
'Tis hers to fail, she weeps not -- be it so --
Failure is God's steel mould of character;
Doth she then spurn her Ideal's face, and throw
Down passion that inspired her in despair?
Strong yet -- she works while others reach the goal,
And least reward shall make the mightier soul!





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