Quiet Work

Matthew Arnold 1822 (Laleham) – 1888 (Liverpool)



One lesson, Nature, let me learn of thee,
One lesson which in every wind is blown,
One lesson of two duties kept at one
Though the loud world proclaim their enmity--

Of toil unsever'd from tranquility!
Of labor, that in lasting fruit outgrows
Far noisier schemes, accomplish'd in repose,
Too great for haste, too high for rivalry.

Yes, while on earth a thousand discords ring,
Man's fitful uproar mingling with his toil,
Still do thy sleepless ministers move on,

Their glorious tasks in silence perfecting;
Still working, blaming still our vain turmoil,
Laborers that shall not fail, when man is gone.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 13, 2023

31 sec read
123

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXXA ABBA CDX CDX
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 609
Words 103
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 3, 3

Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. more…

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