Poems of Cheer

From Immortal Poetry

Poems of Cheer
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

1 Preface
2 Poems of Cheer

[edit] Preface

This Volume contains the poems published under the title "Poems of Life," with the exception of about half a dozen, which appear in my other volumes. I have also added a few new verses.
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.
April 12th, 1910.

I step across the mystic border-land,

And look upon the wonder-world of Art.

How beautiful, how beautiful its hills!

And all its valleys, how surpassing fair!

The winding paths that lead up to the heights

Are polished by the footsteps of the great.

The mountain-peaks stand very near to God:

The chosen few whose feet have trod thereon

Have talked with Him, and with the angels walked.

Here are no sounds of discord--no profane

Or senseless gossip of unworthy things -

Only the songs of chisels and of pens,

Of busy brushes, and ecstatic strains

Of souls surcharged with music most divine.

Here is no idle sorrow, no poor grief

For any day or object left behind -

For time is counted precious, and herein

Is such complete abandonment of Self

That tears turn into rainbows, and enhance

The beauty of the land where all is fair.

Awed and afraid, I cross the border-land.

Oh, who am I, that I dare enter here

Where the great artists of the world have trod -

The genius-crowned aristocrats of Earth?

Only the singer of a little song;

Yet loving Art with such a mighty love

I hold it greater to have won a place

Just on the fair land's edge, to make my grave,

Than in the outer world of greed and gain

To sit upon a royal throne and reign.

[edit] Poems of Cheer

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Categories: Poems | 1910 works | Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Poems of Cheer

From Immortal Poetry

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