If one should strive to reach a star,
He would not build a ladder high,
Seek foot by foot to climb so far,
And step by step ascend the sky;
But he would seek the wild bird-s wings,
The secret of the lightning-s play,
Leap out upon the night-s blue rings,
And hail at dawn his wished-for day.
I will not vainly seek to thee
By ladder-steps of wealth or fame,
Till some few feet below me be
The world, thy distance still the same.
But I will seek that influence
By which all nature-s marvels move,
Till I, by flash or flight from hence,
Win to thee as on wings of Love.
Excelsior
Francis William Bourdillon
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Poem topics: nature, night, sky, star, world, bird, wild, blue, wealth, flight, play, secret, reach, high, Valentine's Day, distance, dawn, love, I love you, step, Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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