The Gift Outright by Robert Frost
The men who create power make
an indispensable contribution
to this nation’s greatest,
but the men who question power
make a contribution just as indispensible,
especially when that questioning is
‘disinterested’.
For they determine whether
we use power or power uses us.
When power leads men toward arrogance,
poetry reminds him of his limitations.
When power narrows the area of man’s concern,
poetry reminds him of the richness and
diversity of his existence.
When power corrupts,
poetry cleanses.
For art establishes
the basic human truth,
which must serve as a touchstone of our judgement.
Alice
Apr 06 2002
10:22 am
The Gift Outright by Robert Frost
The men who create power make
an indispensable contribution
to this nation’s greatest,
but the men who question power
make a contribution just as indispensible,
especially when that questioning is
‘disinterested’.
For they determine whether
we use power or power uses us.
When power leads men toward arrogance,
poetry reminds him of his limitations.
When power narrows the area of man’s concern,
poetry reminds him of the richness and
diversity of his existence.
When power corrupts,
poetry cleanses.
For art establishes
the basic human truth,
which must serve as a touchstone of our judgement.