Truly Great

Read 'Truly Great' by 'William Henry Davies' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

Truly Great by William Henry Davies

 My walls outside must have some flowers, 
My walls within must have some books; 
A house that's small; a garden large, 
And in it leafy nooks. 

A little gold that's sure each week; 
That comes not from my living kind, 
But from a dead man in his grave, 
Who cannot change his mind. 

A lovely wife, and gentle too; 
Contented that no eyes but mine 
Can see her many charms, nor voice 
To call her beauty fine. 

Where she would in that stone cage live, 
A self-made prisoner, with me; 
While many a wild bird sang around, 
On gate, on bush, on tree. 

And she sometimes to answer them, 
In her far sweeter voice than all; 
Till birds, that loved to look on leaves, 
Will doat on a stone wall. 

With this small house, this garden large, 
This little gold, this lovely mate, 
With health in body, peace in heart-- 
Show me a man more great.

Form: Ballad Comments

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