THE EXPLORERS

Must man still be the slave of Use?—

But these men, careless and elate,

Join battle with a burly world

Or come to wrestling grips with fate,

And not for any good nor gain

Nor any fame that may befall —

But, thrilling in the clutch of life,

Heed the loud challenge and the call;—

And grown to symbols at the last,

Stand in heroic silhouette

Against horizons ultimate,

As towers that front lost seas are set;—

The reckless gesture, the strong pose,

Sharp battle-cry flung back to Earth,

And buoyant humor, as a god

Might say: “Lo, here my feet have trod!” —

There lies the meaning and the worth!

They bring no golden treasure home,

They win no acres for their clan,

Nor dream nor deed of theirs shall mend

The ills of man's bedeviled span —

Nor are they skilled in sleights of speech,

( Nor overeager ) to make plain

The use they serve, transcending use,—

The gain beyond apparent gain!