For Those Who Fail
by Joaquin Miller
ll honor to him who shall win the prize,"- The world has cried for a thousand years;
- But to him who tries, and who fails and dies,
- I give great honor and glory and tears:
- Give glory and honor and pitiful tears
- To all who fail in their deeds sublime;
- Their ghosts are many in the van of years,
- They were born with Time, in advance of Time.
- Oh, great is the hero who wins a name,
- But greater many and many a time
- Some pale-faced fellow who dies in shame,
- And lets God finish the thought sublime.
- And great is the man with a sword undrawn,
- And good is the man who refrains from wine;
- But the man who fails and yet still fights on,
- Lo, he is the twin-born brother of mine.