A shilling life will give you
all the facts: How Father beat him, how he ran
away, What were the struggles of his
youth, what acts Made him the greatest figure of
his day: Of how he fought, fished,
hunted, worked all night, Though giddy, climbed new
mountains; named a sea: Some of the last researchers
even write Love made him weep his pints
like you and me.
With all his honours on, he
sighed for one Who, say astonished critics,
lived at home; Did little jobs about the house
with skill And nothing else; could whistle;
would sit still Or potter round the garden;
answered some Of his long marvellous letters
but kept none.