Look Up Poem by John Critchley Prince

Look up!' cried the seaman, with nerves like steel,
As skyward his glance he cast,
And beheld his own son grow giddy, and reel
On the point of the tapering mast.
Look up! and the bold boy lifted his face,
And banished his brief alarms,
Slid down at once from his perilous place,
And leapt in his father's arms.

Look up! we cry to the sorely oppressed,
Who seem from all comfort shut,
You had better look up to the mountain crest,
Than down to the precipice foot.
The one offers heights ye may hope to gain,
Pure ether, and freedom, and room;
The other bewilders the aching brain
With roughness, and danger, and gloom.

Look up! meek soul, by affliction bent,
Nor dally with dull despair,
Look up, and with faith, to the firmament,
For Heaven and mercy are there.
The frail flower droops in the stormy shower,
And the shadows of needful night,
But it looks to the sun in the after hour,
And takes full measure of light.

Look up! sad man, by adversity brought
From high unto low estate,
Play not with the bane of corrosive thought,
Nor murmur at chance and fate.
Renew thy hopes; look the world in the face,
For it helps not those who repine;
Press on, and its cheer will amend thy pace;
Succeed, and its homage is thine.

Look up! great crowd, who are foremost set
In the changeful battle of life;
Some days of calm may reward ye yet
For years of allotted strife.
Look up, and beyond, there's a guerdon there
For the humble and pure of heart,
Fruition of joys unalloyed by care,
Of peace that can never depart.

Look up! large spirit, by Heaven inspired,
Thou rare and expansive soul!
Look up, with endeavour and zeal untired,
And strive for the loftiest goal;
Advance, and encourage the kindred throng,
Who toil up the slopes behind,
To follow, and hail with triumphant song
The holier regions of mind!