The first stanza I happened upon twice within a week, so I thought I'd share my New Year's thoughts with you, built on it.


Upward


"Too low they build who build beneath the stars" -
We toil in vain new heights to reach, but low;
We labour on, not noticing what mars
And reap both tare and tears with what we sow.
Show us how hills indeed through WILL be claimed
'Tis slow, but neccessary to move up,
achieve the summit! Well might we be maimed;
Yet, notwithstanding, will have filled our cup
With dewdrops glistening like precious jew'ls
and need but glance at them to quench our thirst;
We'll learn while climbing how to use our tools:
our words sent upward, whilst our songs come first.

Thus, shout it out in year two thousand sev'n:
Raise everything you're building straight to heav'n!



Poetry by betsy Firefly
Read 454 times
Written on 2007-01-03 at 18:16

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F.i.in.e Moods The PoetBay support member heart!
aim to reach soaring heights is the feeling this gives me... also any reference to building anything high up in the heavens makes me think of the Babel Tower... no link sorry, just my mind making associations :) a very nice text though, i enjoyed the flow and the way it's expressed... well-written words, the message is uplifting as well... that quoted line sends me in a contemplative mode... very nice... thanks for sharing :f *hug* xx
2007-02-15


betsy Firefly
Edward Young (1685-1763) FROM HIS " Night Thoughts" - Illustrated by William Blake.
I didn't know until I looked it up after I had the line come to me in two different contexts (in two different books I'm currently reading). Thanks!
2007-01-03


Rob Graber
Inspiring sonnet! Do I assume that only the first line is borrowed? Do you know its source? Thanks!
2007-01-03