Giants’ Shoulders

 

You are young, master William,

A brilliant man,

Because you consistently stand by the heads

Of giants who do not lie down in their beds,

Though their beds are their graves

Their minds are on staves

And so you contrive

To keep them alive.

And of course this is part of a wonderful plan.

For the shoulders of giants provide a good view,

As you look at the world and decide what to do,

And you learn so much more

From the giants before

Than you could if you started from somewhere quite new.

And giants, their shoulders, are strong as they’re wide,

And provide lovely places for babies to sleep on,

And if you’re in doubt or you cannot decide,

Then the giant you stand on, impels you to keep on,

And do more great things with things already tried.

But be wise as you look at the world from up there,

Remember this one fact and always take care,

Giants, their shoulders, need plenty of room,

And can blot out the light and can add to the gloom,

Remember their role should be one of support,

Do not feel that you are obliged to resort

To holding them up and spending your days,

Getting your living by singing their praise, 

in some kind of dreary endless rat race,

Earning the means of providing the space,

For all those huge shoulders 

Like weather worn boulders

You’ve strewn about the place.

Better that they disappear without trace

Better be lonely than work for them only.