SEA SPRAY &> SMOKE DRIFT 



So man striving boldly but blindly, 

 Ground piecemeal in Destiny's mill, 



At his best, taking punishment kindly, 

 Is only a chopping-block still. 



Are we wise ? our abstruse calculations 



Are based on experience long ; 

 Are we sanguine ? our high expectations 



Are founded on hope that is strong ; 

 Thus we build an air-castle that crumbles 



And drifts, till no traces remain, 

 And the fool builds again while he grumbles. 



And the wise one laughs, building again. 



** How came they to pass, these rash blunders, 



These false steps so hard to defend ? " 

 Our friend puts the question and wonders. 



We laugh and reply, "Ah! my friend. 

 Could you trace the first stride falsely taken, 



The distance misjudged, where or how, 

 When you pick'd yourself up, stunn'd and 

 shaken. 



At the fence 'twixt the turf and the plough ? 



** In the jar of the panel rebounding ! 



In the crash of the splintering wood ! 



146 



