Classic Poem

THE POET INDITES :

“Who have shunned the languid fountains
 Where the perfumed pleasures are?
Who have dared to climb the mountains—
 Braved the heights to pluck a star?
Who of those who know the dangers
 Drive their ship across the bar?

“We have spanned the star-strewn reaches,
 We have bridged the dread abyss—
All the ghastly corpse-lined beaches
 Hold no triumph such as this.
We have robbed Time of its terrors;
 We have answered Death's cold kiss.”

*****

THE READERS BESEECH :

Tell us, poet, tell us truly
 Of that vague and shrouded land
Which you write of in your newly-
 Published poem, gray and grand—
For the message still eludes us,
 Tho' we seem to understand.

THE POET RESPONDS :

Would you have your stanzas quoted?
 Would you win such fame as mine?
Know then, verse like this the noted
 Magazines will not decline;
Thoughts like the above are precious—
 Say, at fifty cents a line.