Poems (Hoffman)/Fame
For works with similar titles, see Fame.
FAME
Millions have gazed upon thy towering height, O envied Fame!And millions fain would on thy record write A fadeless name.
But oh, how many of this mighty throng While years have flown,Have lived and died and left life's changing song, To fame unknown!
Ah! many a fair ambition-gilded gem, So dearly prized,Has faded from Hope's golden diadem Unrealized.
And are they lost—gone never to return Dead songs of vanished years—And nothing left but lessons hard to learn, Through bitter, blinding tears?
Yes; many who might stand at Honor's side With laurels crowned,But struggle to fulfil through Time's slow tide, Life's common round.
And some, who might have found Fame's golden throne A well-earned destiny,Leave not behind a monumental stone To tell their history;
Too good to leave for other hands to do Their common daily task,Faithful to duty, to their Maker true; No higher lot they ask.
Forgotten? Oh, those many unmarked graves, Strewn over land and sea!Naught but the desert winds and ocean waves Rehearse their memory.
But oh! in immortality arrayed In Heaven they dwell,Though years have vanished, since to earth they bade A long farewell.
But not alone the poor and humble rest Where willows wave,The highest paths of power and fame, at last Lead to the grave.
Ah! hear the dirge that all mankind must learn: Place not on earth thy trust,For dust thou art, to dust shalt thou return, Dust unto dust.
A queen lay on her death-bed, 'round her shone Beauty and luxury;But what to her was now her princely throne And mighty monarchy?
Lost to the world would soon her presence be, And ghosts of vanished years,Thronged 'round her bed, laughed at her misery And mocked her tears.
But memory saw another being there, Her crown of gold,The jewels sparkling on her waving hair Roused fears untold.
Again she saw the warrant she had signed To seal another's fate,And sought for peace and mercy but to find Her search too late,
And uttered; knowing that 'twould soon be o'er, The last words she could sayBefore the proud tongue paused to speak no more, "A kingdom for a day!"
A kingdom—all its wealth and princely dowers To gladly give,Just for a few more, weary, lingering hours In which to live.
In which to make her peace with Heaven secure Before her tongue was dumb,In which to make her blackened record pure Ere death should come.
How short is human Fame, how very soon Is passed Life's little day,Her wealth and beauty journey to the tomb; Her glories fade away.
How small is Fame—beyond her golden sands, Beyond the clouds, we seeThe shining bow of promise, spans Time and eternity.