I was reading about William Cullen Bryant, the American poet who was born in a log cabin in Massachusetts in 1794, and I came across this quote from him:
‘Difficulty, my brethren, is the nurse of greatness—a harsh nurse, who roughly rocks her foster-children into strength and athletic proportion.’
… and I couldn’t help but think how true it is. I’m sure my life has been much easier than his, I wasn’t born in a log cabin, and I’m sure my difficulties have been few compared to the struggles he must have gone through, however, his words do have a great resonance for me.
Here is another poem by Bryant
I Broke the Spell That Held Me Long
I broke the spell that held me long,
The dear, dear witchery of song.
I said, the poet’s idle lore
Shall waste my prime of years no more,
For Poetry, though heavenly born,
Consorts with poverty and scorn.
I broke the spell–nor deemed its power
Could fetter me another hour.
Ah, thoughtless! how could I forget
Its causes were around me yet?
For wheresoe’er I looked, the while,
Was Nature’s everlasting smile.
Still came and lingered on my sight
Of flowers and streams the bloom and light,
And glory of the stars and sun; –
And these and poetry are one.
They, ere the world had held me long,
Recalled me to the love of song.
William Cullen Bryant
Lois Elsden 