andhonorandpityandprideandcompaionandsacrifice.untilhedoesso,helaborsunderacurse.hewritesnotoflovebutoflust,ofdefeatsinwhichnobodylosesanythingofvalue,ofvictorieswithouthopeand,worstofall,withoutpityorcompaion.hisgriefsgrieveonnouniversalbones,leavingnoscars.hewritesnotoftheheartbutoftheglands.
untilhelearthesethings,hewillwriteasthoughhestoodamongandwatchedtheendofman.ideclinetoaccepttheendofman.itiseasyenoughtosaythatmanisimmortalsimplybecausehewillendure:thatwhenthelastding-dongofdoomhasclangedandfadedfromthelastworthlerockhangingtideleinthelastredanddyingevening,thateventhentherewillstillbeonemoresound:thatofhispunyinexhaustiblevoice,stilltalking.irefusetoacceptthis.ibelievethatmanwillnotmerelyendure:hewillprevail.heisimmortal,notbecausehealoneamongcreatureshasaninexhaustiblevoice,butbecausehehasasoul,airitcapableofcompaionandsacrificeandendurance.
thepoet''s,thewriter''s,dutyistowriteaboutthesethings.itishisprivilegetohelpmanendurebyliftinghisheart,byremindinghimofthecourageandhonorandhopeandprideandcompaionandpityandsacrificewhichhavebeenthegloryofhispast.thepoet''svoiceneednotmerelybetherecordofman,itcanbeoneofthepro,thepillarstohelphimendureandprevail.