“The Truly Great” by Stephen Spender 2012 POL Recitation
I think continually of those who were truly great.
Who, from the womb, remembered the soul’s history
Through corridors of light, where the hours are suns,
Endless and singing. Whose lovely ambition
Was that their lips, still touched with fire,
Should tell of the Spirit, clothed from head to foot in song.
And who hoarded from the Spring branches
The desires falling across their bodies like blossoms.
What is precious, is never to forget
The essential delight of the blood drawn from ageless springs
Breaking through rocks in worlds before our earth.
Never to deny its pleasure in the morning simple light
Nor its grave evening demand for love.
Never to allow gradually the traffic to smother
With noise and fog, the flowering of the spirit.
Near the snow, near the sun, in the highest fields,
See how these names are fêted by the waving grass
And by the streamers of white cloud
And whispers of wind in the listening sky.
The names of those who in their lives fought for life,
Who wore at their hearts the fire’s centre.
Born of the sun, they travelled a short while toward the sun
And left the vivid air signed with their honour.
Links: The Truly Great | The Poetry Foundation; Stephen Spender | The Poetry Foundation;Portret van een onbekende vrouw - Rijksmuseum;Vier kinderen rondom een kerstboom - Rijksmuseum;Melkwinkel van Walst - Rijksmuseum;Portret van een vrouw - Rijksmuseum;Portret van Johan Drabbe - Rijksmuseum;Plantstudie - Rijksmuseum;Portrait of Nurse Nelly - Rijksmuseum;Art - Goût - Beauté, Feuillets de l' élégance féminine, Novembre 1928, No. 99, 9e Année, schutblad - Rijksmuseum;Portraits of Albert Verwey and Stefan George - Rijksmuseum
Listen: “The Truly Great” by Stephen Spender 2012 POL Recitation | Bankson Manor
Watch: “The Truly Great” by Stephen Spender 2012 POL Recitation | Bankson Manor
About the Author: Kaitlyn Bankson is an American literary novelist. She writes psychologically driven literary fiction and hosts the Bankson Manor podcast. Read more of her work at kaitlynbankson.com.
Views Expressed Disclaimer: Please know that while I consider myself an Objectivist and my work is inspired by Objectivism, it is not, nor should it be considered, Objectivist since I am not the creator of the philosophy. For more information about Ayn Rand's philosophy, visit aynrand.org.
