Two Boys

Two boys stood on a height Reading their coming lives in earth and sky; One clapp'd his hands in gay delight, And cried, “How grand a sailor-king am I!” The other did not even see the waves That beat against the cliff in harmless strife; I think he thought the world was only graves,— I think he thought the skies were only life. One cried, “How grand a king! For I shall hold the storm-wind in my hand; Shall crush the storm-beasts as they spring, And battle with the waves,—Ah, ha! how grand! I on my deck am mighty lord of all, A monarch must obey my lightest breath, Each sign I give—each word that I let fall Are to a hundred creatures life or death!” “Oh, life!” the other cried; Oh, death! what are they? death is life alone, And if the tempest drown thy pride, And if thy word brings death, life is unknown; From me shall spring the only life in life. The only life in death; let tempests fall— Let dreadful storm-beasts crush us in the strife, The death they bring, brings life, best life of all!”