Explore "Vanity" by O. Henry on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
A poet sang a song so wondrous sweet, / That toiling thousands paused and listened long; / So lofty, strong, and noble were his themes, / It seemed that strength supernal swayed his song.
He, god-like, chided poor, weak, weeping man, / And bade him dry his foolish, shameful tears. / Taught that each soul on its proud self should lean, / And from that rampart scorn all earth-born fears.
The poet groveled on a fresh-heaped mound / Raised o'er the grave of one he fondly loved, / And cursed the world, and drenched the sod with tears, / And all the flimsy mockery of his precepts proved.