Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VI. Fancy. 1904. | | | | Poems of Sentiment: IV. Thought: Poetry: Books | | Unknown Poets | | William Wordsworth (1770–1850) |
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O, MANY are the poets that are sown | |
| By nature; men endowed with highest gifts, | |
| The vision and the faculty divine; | |
| Yet wanting the accomplishment of verse | |
| (Which, in the docile season of their youth, | 5 |
| It was denied them to acquire, through lack | |
| Of culture and the inspiring aid of books, | |
| Or haply by a temper too severe, | |
| Or a nice backwardness afraid of shame), | |
| Nor having e’er, as life advanced, been led | 10 |
| By circumstance to take unto the height | |
| The measure of themselves, these favored beings, | |
| All but a scattered few, live out their time, | |
| Husbanding that which they possess within, | |
| And go to the grave, unthought of. Strongest minds | 15 |
| Are often those of whom the noisy world | |
| Hears least. | | | | |
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