Unknown Poets

From “The Excursion,” Book I. O, MANY are the poets that are sown By nature; men endowed with highest gifts, The vision and the faculty divine; Yet wanting the accomplishment of verse (Which, in the docile season of their youth, It was denied them to acquire, through lack Of culture and the inspiring aid of books, Or haply by a temper too severe, Or a nice backwardness afraid of shame), Nor having e’er, as life advanced, been led By circumstance to take unto the height The measure of themselves, these favored beings, All but a scattered few, live out their time, Husbanding that which they possess within, And go to the grave, unthought of. Strongest minds Are often those of whom the noisy world Hears least.

Collection: 
English
1790
William Wordsworth
Sub Title: 
Poems of Sentiment: IV. Thought: Poetry: Books

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