The poem
SAY not the struggle naught availeth, The labour and the wounds are vain, The enemy faints not, nor faileth, And as things have been they remain.
If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars; It may be, in yon smoke conceal'd, Your comrades chase e'en now the fliers, And, but for you, possess the field.
For while the tired waves, vainly breaking, Seem here no painful inch to gain, Far back, through creeks and inlets making, Comes silent, flooding in, the main.
And not by eastern windows only, When daylight comes, comes in the light; In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly! But westward, look, the land is bright!
Can anyone please translate it into modern English?
Thanks!
Say not the struggle naught availeth
Its only the first two stanzas that have older language in them and even then its only a few words. Its the prose and grammar of the poem which is most difficult to understand. I would suggest you look up an analysis of the poem on the net (there are heaps of good ones) to get more of an understanding of the it. i have swapped some of the older words for newer ones and i have to say it loses a lot of its class for…
Read the whole commentIts only the first two stanzas that have older language in them and even then its only a few words. Its the prose and grammar of the poem which is most difficult to understand. I would suggest you look up an analysis of the poem on the net (there are heaps of good ones) to get more of an understanding of the it. i have swapped some of the older words for newer ones and i have to say it loses a lot of its class for it.. hope this helps
Don’t say the struggle is to no avail
The work and the wounds are in vain
The enemy doesn’t tire or fail
And as things have been they shall remain
If hopes were duds, fears may be liars
It may be, in that smoke concealed
Your friends chase even now the fliers
And but for you possess the field