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- Aug 30, 2011
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From a lofty seat scornful laughter falls
As, safe and sound, the angry critic calls
To the man below, to say what he could do
If he just knew what the wise critic knew.
Criticism is all the critic’s work -
One from which he does not fail nor shirk;
‘Tis easy for him to give good advice,
And it is not hard to be so precise,
Or make the call once the play has been run,
Or, after, to say what one should’ve done.
*
While down below on the arena floor
Strives a man, though dirty, battered and sore;
Who wears a mask of dust, and sweat and blood,
And with weary step, struggles through the mud;
Whose whole body, mind and soul have been trained,
And in whose heart and will has been ingrained -
Through losses and the hard lessons thus learned -
That victory is not given, but earned,
Not by the critic on his lofty seat,
But by those who in the arena compete.
*
The man in the arena knows the cost
That is required in each win or loss;
He knows the long hours that are required
To reach the goal that is so much desired.
The contender knows he may win the crown -
No matter if the critic smile or frown -
And if he strives and falls short of his goal,
He still has abiding deep in his soul
The knowledge that he is not of that class,
Who criticize what they cannot surpass.
He scorns the critic in his lofty seat,
Who never tasted triumph or defeat.
As, safe and sound, the angry critic calls
To the man below, to say what he could do
If he just knew what the wise critic knew.
Criticism is all the critic’s work -
One from which he does not fail nor shirk;
‘Tis easy for him to give good advice,
And it is not hard to be so precise,
Or make the call once the play has been run,
Or, after, to say what one should’ve done.
*
While down below on the arena floor
Strives a man, though dirty, battered and sore;
Who wears a mask of dust, and sweat and blood,
And with weary step, struggles through the mud;
Whose whole body, mind and soul have been trained,
And in whose heart and will has been ingrained -
Through losses and the hard lessons thus learned -
That victory is not given, but earned,
Not by the critic on his lofty seat,
But by those who in the arena compete.
*
The man in the arena knows the cost
That is required in each win or loss;
He knows the long hours that are required
To reach the goal that is so much desired.
The contender knows he may win the crown -
No matter if the critic smile or frown -
And if he strives and falls short of his goal,
He still has abiding deep in his soul
The knowledge that he is not of that class,
Who criticize what they cannot surpass.
He scorns the critic in his lofty seat,
Who never tasted triumph or defeat.