Character of the Happy Warrior

Who is the happy warrior?
Who is he, whom evey man in arms should wish to be?
It is the generous spirit, who when brought among the task of real life
hath wrought, upon the plan that pleased his childish thought
Whose high endeavours are inward light
that make the path before him always bright
Who, with a natural instinct to discern
what knowledge can perform, is diligent to learn
abides by this resolves, and stop not there

But makes his moral being his prime care
Who, doomed to go in company with pain
and fear, and bloodshed, miserable train
Turns his necessity to glorious gain
in face of these doth exercise a power
which is our human-nature's highest dower
controls them and subdues, transmutes, bereaves
of their bad influence,and their good receives
By objects, which might force the soul to abate
her feeling, rendered more compassionate

is placable because occasions rise
So often that demand such sacrifice
more skilful in self-knowledge, even more pure
As temptedd more, more able to endure
as more exposed to suffering and distress
Thence, also more alive to tenderness
this he whose law is a reason
who depends upon that law as on the best of friends
Whence, in a state where men are tempted stil
to evil for a guard against worse ill

and what in quality or act is best
Doth seldom on a right foundation rest
he fixes good on good alone, and owes
to virtue every triumph that he knows
Who, if he rise to station of command
rises by open means, and there will stand
on honourable terms, or else retire
and in himself possess his own desire
who comprehends his trust, and to the same
Keep faithful with a singleness of aim

and therefore does not stoop nor lie in wait
For wealth, or honors, or for worldly state
Whom they must follow, on whose head must fall
Like showers of manna, if they come at all
Whose powers shed round him in the common strife
or mild concerns of ordinary life
a constant influence, a peculiar grace
but who, if he be called upon to face
some awful moment to which heaven has joined
Great issues, good or bad for human-kind

is happy as a lover, and attired
with sudden brightness like a man inspired
and through the heat of conflict keeps the law
In calmness made, and sees what he foresaw
or if an unexpected call succeed
Come when it will, is equal to the need
He who, though thus endued as with a sense
an faculty for storm and turbulence
is yet a soul whose master bias leans
To home-felt pleasures and to gentle scenes

Sweet images
which, wheresoever he be
are at his heartand such fidelity
It is his darling passion to approve
more brave for this, that he hath much to love
Tis, finally, the Man who, lifted high
conspicous object in a Nation's eye
or left unthought- of in obscurity
Who, with a toward or untoward lot,
Prosperous or adverse, to his wish or not
plays, in the many games of life, that one

Where what he most doth value must be won
whom neither shape of anger can dismay
nor thought of tender happiness betray
Who, not content that former worth stand fast
looks forward, persevering to the last
from well to better, daily self-surpast
Who whether praise of him must walk the earth
for ever, and to noble deeds give birth
or he must go to dust without his fame
and leave a dead unprofitable name

Finds comfort in himself and in his cause
and, while the mortal mist is gathering, draws
his breath in confidence of Heaven's applause
This is the happy warrior, this is
He whom every man in arms should wish to be.

Not-Mine
Poems in Two Volumes

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To my best buds
Efi Aqis
and my loyal listener
Ashraf Rafael Azhar
and everyone dear at heart

This is to life
and the possibilities it hath
To the journey past and to come
To remind us of what we are and not
what we can and not
be