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Headpiece Page 458

Headpiece Page 458

BY AUSTIN DOBSON

Decoration 1

LIFE, like a page unpenned,Spreads out its whiteness,Nothing, from end to end,Marring its brightness.Surely a field to claimSteadfast endeavor?Where one might win a nameVocal forever?

LIFE, like a page unpenned,Spreads out its whiteness,Nothing, from end to end,Marring its brightness.Surely a field to claimSteadfast endeavor?Where one might win a nameVocal forever?

LIFE, like a page unpenned,Spreads out its whiteness,Nothing, from end to end,Marring its brightness.

LIFE, like a page unpenned,

Spreads out its whiteness,

Nothing, from end to end,

Marring its brightness.

Surely a field to claimSteadfast endeavor?Where one might win a nameVocal forever?

Surely a field to claim

Steadfast endeavor?

Where one might win a name

Vocal forever?

Decoration 2

Now—to review it all—What a prosaic,Patched, unmethodical,Paltry mosaic!Plans that ne’er found a base;Wingless up-yearning;Speed, that ne’er won the race;Fire, without burning;Doubt never set at rest,Stifle or falter it;Good, that was not the best—Yet, would you alter it?Yet, would you tread againAll the road over?Face the old joy and pain—Hemlock and clover?

Now—to review it all—What a prosaic,Patched, unmethodical,Paltry mosaic!Plans that ne’er found a base;Wingless up-yearning;Speed, that ne’er won the race;Fire, without burning;Doubt never set at rest,Stifle or falter it;Good, that was not the best—Yet, would you alter it?Yet, would you tread againAll the road over?Face the old joy and pain—Hemlock and clover?

Now—to review it all—What a prosaic,Patched, unmethodical,Paltry mosaic!

Now—to review it all—

What a prosaic,

Patched, unmethodical,

Paltry mosaic!

Plans that ne’er found a base;Wingless up-yearning;Speed, that ne’er won the race;Fire, without burning;

Plans that ne’er found a base;

Wingless up-yearning;

Speed, that ne’er won the race;

Fire, without burning;

Doubt never set at rest,Stifle or falter it;Good, that was not the best—Yet, would you alter it?

Doubt never set at rest,

Stifle or falter it;

Good, that was not the best—

Yet, would you alter it?

Yet, would you tread againAll the road over?Face the old joy and pain—Hemlock and clover?

Yet, would you tread again

All the road over?

Face the old joy and pain—

Hemlock and clover?

Decoration 3

Yes: for it still was good,Good to be living;Buoyant of heart and blood,Fighting, forgiving;Glad for the earth and sky,Glad—for mere gladness;Grateful, one knew not why,Even for sadness;Finding a ray of hopeGleam through distresses;Building a larger scopeOut from successes;Careless of loss and gain,Rendering ever,Both for the joy and pain,Thanks to the Giver.

Yes: for it still was good,Good to be living;Buoyant of heart and blood,Fighting, forgiving;Glad for the earth and sky,Glad—for mere gladness;Grateful, one knew not why,Even for sadness;Finding a ray of hopeGleam through distresses;Building a larger scopeOut from successes;Careless of loss and gain,Rendering ever,Both for the joy and pain,Thanks to the Giver.

Yes: for it still was good,Good to be living;Buoyant of heart and blood,Fighting, forgiving;

Yes: for it still was good,

Good to be living;

Buoyant of heart and blood,

Fighting, forgiving;

Glad for the earth and sky,Glad—for mere gladness;Grateful, one knew not why,Even for sadness;

Glad for the earth and sky,

Glad—for mere gladness;

Grateful, one knew not why,

Even for sadness;

Finding a ray of hopeGleam through distresses;Building a larger scopeOut from successes;

Finding a ray of hope

Gleam through distresses;

Building a larger scope

Out from successes;

Careless of loss and gain,Rendering ever,Both for the joy and pain,Thanks to the Giver.

Careless of loss and gain,

Rendering ever,

Both for the joy and pain,

Thanks to the Giver.

Decoration 4

So, though the script is slow,Faint though the line is,Let the poor record go,Onward toFinis.

So, though the script is slow,Faint though the line is,Let the poor record go,Onward toFinis.

So, though the script is slow,Faint though the line is,Let the poor record go,Onward toFinis.

So, though the script is slow,

Faint though the line is,

Let the poor record go,

Onward toFinis.


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