Onbin Shikaku

"All honor to him who shall win the prize"
The world has cried for a thousand years;

But to him who tries and who fails and dies,
I give great honor and glory and tears.

great is the hero who wins a name,

But greater many and many a time
Some pale-faced fellow who dies in shame,

And lets God finish the thought sublime.

And great is the man with a sword undrawn,
And good is the man who refrains from wine;

But the man who fails and yet fights on,
Lo, he is the twin-born brother of mine!



For Those Who Fail
Joaquin Miller