Peter Cooper

give honor and love for evermore To this great man gone to rest; Peace on the dim Plutonian shore, Rest in the land of the blest. I reckon him greater than any man That ever drew sword in war; I reckon him nobler than king or khan, Braver and better by far. And wisest he in this whole wide land Of hoarding till bent and gray; For all you can hold in your cold dead hand Is what you have given away. So whether to wander the stars or to rest Forever hushed and dumb, He gave with a zest and he gave his best— Give him the best to come. 1883.

Collection: 

More from Poet

  • ’MID white Sierras, that slope to the sea, Lie turbulent lands. Go dwell in the skies, And the thundering tongues of Yosemitè Shall persuade you to silence, and you shall be wise. I but sing for the love of song and the few Who loved me first and shall love me last; And the storm shall pass...

  • BEHOLD where Beauty walks with Peace! Behold where Plenty pours her horn Of fruits, of flowers, fat increase, As generous as light of morn. Green Shasta, San Diego, seas Of bloom and green between them rolled. Great herds in grasses to their knees, And green earth garmented in gold. White...

  • From “The Isles of the Amazons,” Part III. COME, lovers, come, forget your pains! I know upon this earth a spot Where clinking coins, that clank as chains Upon the souls of men, are not; Nor man is measured for his gains Of gold that stream with crimson stains. There snow-topped towers crush...

  • you will come, my bird, Bonita? Come! For I by steep and stone Have built such nest for you, Juanita, As not eagle bird hath known. Rugged! Rugged as Parnassus! Rude, as all roads I have trod— Yet are steeps and stone-strewn passes Smooth o’erhead, and nearest God. Here black thunders of...

  • Come listen, O Love, to the voice of the dove, Come, hearken and hear him say, There are many To-morrows, my Love, my Love,— There is only one To-day. And all day long you can hear him say This day in purple is rolled, And the baby stars of the milky-way— They are cradled in cradles of gold. Now...