Failure On Failure

by Katharine Lee Bates

Failure on failure seed the slow success.
All mired and bruised the footsore traveller came
By swamp and steep, through unimagined stress,
To envied fame.

Sorrow on sorrow purge the selfish heart.
Not till our dearest are caught up above
Our hurt, our help, we learn life's finest art,
The art of love.