The Path (by Paul Laurence Dunbar)

Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1872-1906
The Path
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
[from Lyrics of Lowly Life, 1896]
There are no beaten paths to Glory's height,
There are no rules to compass greatness known;
Each for himself must cleave a path alone,
And press his own way forward in the fight.
Smooth is the way to ease and calm delight,
And soft the road Sloth chooseth for her own;
But he who craves the flower of life full-blown,
Must struggle up in all his armor dight!
What though the burden bear him sorely down
And crush to dust the mountain of his pride,
Oh, then, with strong heart let him still abide;
For rugged is the roadway to renown.
Nor may he hope to gain the envied crown,
Till he hath thrust the looming rocks aside.





Nice sonnet... I'd not heard the word "dight" before. Had to look it up...
He really has a varied repertoire for poetry..
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I hadn't remembered seeing that word before either - though I recall a related word, "bedight," from Poe's "The Conqueror Worm."
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I haven't read Dunbar since High School!!
Thanks for reminding me how great he was/is!
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You're welcome! Thanks for stopping by, Ninure!
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