Poems (Hoffman)/Development
DEVELOPMENT
A naturalist watched with a wondering awe,
A winged beauty struggling its way to the light;
Such strivings, and pantings, and strugglings, he saw
Then, gorgeous wings spread, without blemish or flaw.
A winged beauty struggling its way to the light;
Such strivings, and pantings, and strugglings, he saw
Then, gorgeous wings spread, without blemish or flaw.
Another cramped life was in strife to expand,
The naturalist opened the close, cruel door,
And the inmate crept out by the help of his hand;
But a colorless creature the naturalist scanned.
The naturalist opened the close, cruel door,
And the inmate crept out by the help of his hand;
But a colorless creature the naturalist scanned.
Dull, lusterless wings, undeveloped, and small,
And the naturalist cried: "Even so 'tis with man,
We must struggle and strive, we must rise when we fall,
Life's a struggle for light, or 'tis nothing at all!"
And the naturalist cried: "Even so 'tis with man,
We must struggle and strive, we must rise when we fall,
Life's a struggle for light, or 'tis nothing at all!"