'TIS THE SET OF THE SAIL

ELLA WHEELER WILCOX 1916
BUT TO EVERY MIND THERE OPENETH,
A WAY, AND A WAY, AND AWAY,
A HIGH SOUL CLIMBS THE HIGHWAY,
AND THE LOW SOUL GROPES THE LOW,
AND THE IN BETWEEN THE MISTY FLATS,
THE REST DRIFT AND FRO.

BUT TO EVERY MAN THERE OPENETH,
A HIGH WAY AND A LOW,
AND EVERY MIND DECIDETH,
THE WAY HIS SOUL SHALL GO.

ONE SHIP SAILS EAST,
AND ANOTHER WEST,
BY THE SELF-SAME WINDS THAT BLOW,
'TIS THE SET OF SAILS
AND NOT THE GALES,
THAT TELLS THE WAY WE GO.
LIKE THE WINDS OF THE SEA
ARE THE WAVES OF TIME,
AS WE JOURNEY ALONG THROUGH LIFE,
'TIS THE SET OF THE SOUL,
THAT DETERMINES THE GOAL,
AND NOT THE CALM OR THE STRIFE.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE THIS PERSON IS TAKING A DARK PATH.
THIS IS A SAILBOAT THAT FOUND THE LIGHT AND IS HEADED ON THE RIGHT PATH.