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Upon Watts' Picture Sic Transit

By John McCrae

Topics: classic

"What I spent I had; what I saved, I lost; what I gave, I have." But yesterday the tourney, all the eager joy of life, The waving of the banners, and the rattle of the spears, The clash of sword and harness, and the madness of the strife; To-night begin the silence and the peace of endless years. ( One sings within.) But yesterday the glory and the prize, And best of all, to lay it at her feet, To find my guerdon in her speaking eyes: I grudge them not, they pass, albeit sweet. The ring of spears, the winning of the fight, The careless song, the cup, the love of friends, The earth in spring to live, to feel the light 'Twas good the while it lasted: here it ends. Remain the well-wrought deed in honour done, The dole for Christ's dear sake, the words that fall In kindliness upon some outcast one, They seemed so little: now they are my All.

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""What I spent I had; what I saved, I lost; what I gave, I have."..."

"Upon Watts' Picture Sic Transit" is a quintessential example of John McCrae's signature style... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

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Author:John McCrae

""What I spent I had; what I saved, I lost; what I ..." by John McCrae

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John McCrae

About John McCrae

John McCrae (1872–1918) was a Canadian poet, physician, and soldier who wrote "In Flanders Fields" after the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915. The poem became the most famous work of World War I and established the poppy as a symbol of remembrance.

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