Help: Lost Poem

Subject: Help: Lost Poem
From: Ringer
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 11:22 AM

Can anyone supply author, source, a reference, or anything about a poem which contains the verse

It's not the things that you meant to do
But the things that you did, my son,
That count in keeping the record straight
When the long day's work is done.

please? All I've managed to find is someone else (Mr J Atkinson) who's looking for the same poem (and he's not found it yet, either).

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 11:55 AM

It sounds like one my dad used to read. He's not home, today, but I will call him tomorrow and ask. In the meantime, have you tried searching at Bartleby's?

Good luck,

kat

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: Ringer
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 09:39 AM

Failed on Bartelby's, kat. But thanks anyway, & look forward to hearing from you when you've talked to your Dad.

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 10:20 AM

I know I've heard or read this - maybe it'll come back where. Anyway, I'd say it's a lot older then the 1964 that Mr J Atkinson reckons it at (I tried Google with the first line too". Start of the last century I would guess, if not earlier. (And I could be completely wrong there.)

But when I followed up Castles in the Air, which was the name Mr Atkinson thought might be the name of it, in that link from Google, I came across this charming song with a midi attached - nothing to do with the one with the quote, but a great example of how if you look for one lost treasure you can always find another you weren't looking for: Castles in the Air, by James Ballantine (1808-1877).

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 10:52 AM

Well I called dad this morning and it sounded familiar to him, too!**BG** If it comes to him he will give me a call.

In the meantime, he thought it might possibly be written by Sydney Lanier; long-shot, maybe Robert W. Service or Robert Frost, but neither one of us really thinks it's either of them. He also suggested the "Bluestocking" crowd.

I have an old Victorian book of poetry. IF it is in storage here, at the house, I can get to it fairly easily and I will check it.

Also, better than bartleby's, in b's is included on this website, you might want to search here: Extensive Quotations Site.

kat

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 01:03 PM

A wonderful find, McGrath. I have another compliment about Contemplator. I printed a copy of the song, and it came out nicely sized with a simple, attractive border and notes all enclosed. Excellent formatting! How often a short poem on other sites requires two sheets of paper, and lines run off the sheet unless I change my printing defaults.

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: Ringer
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 12:55 PM

I have a confession to make: my wife asked me if I could locate the poem "for one of my students". It turns out now that her student's name is John Atkinson. I didn't know when I contacted him, and he didn't connect me with his recent request to his Italian teacher. Only when he mentioned to her that someone else was looking did the penny drop. So there is only one person searching for the poem after all.

But thanks, all.

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: Mark Ross
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 01:28 PM

It sounds like Kipling. Have you Kippled lately?

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: Hollowfox
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 01:44 PM

It also sounds like Eggar Guest, but it isn't either. Congratulations to Mr Atkinson, he stumpped the (excellent) reference department at my main library as well.

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 02:21 PM

In a way the thought is very reminiscent of that in Si Kahn's song "It's not just what you're born with" Especially:

Oh it's not the fights you dream of
But those you really fought
It's not just what your given
But what you do with what you've got

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 03:40 PM

Sorry, Bald Eagle, I've checked my old books, plus those of my daughter who has made a habit out of collecting old poetry books and we can find nothing.

This is going to drive us bats until it is solved!*bg*

kat

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 04:04 PM

Definitely sounds like Kipling to me too... good luck, to both (well, one) of you!

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 07:14 PM

Here are a couple of more resource sites it might be worth exploring:

Bibliomania.com

Classic Books online. Available for download; unfortunately their link for the complete poems of Kipling is broken.:-)

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 07:30 PM

Here's a useful verse quote resource - but no help on this I'm afraid. And here is another - which includes a complete collection if Kipling, and that couldn't help either.

It reads like the kind of verse they'd have had in a school reader in late Victorian times.

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: Ringer
Date: 01 May 02 - 10:55 AM

Perhaps I can send this round again? I (and Mr J Atkinson) am (are) still looking. And thanks to all contributors.

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: IanC
Date: 01 May 02 - 11:37 AM

Thought it looks like it, and it is familiar, it isn't Kipling. I've searched his complete works in the Kipling Concordance and nothing similar shows up even when I just do a search on "son".

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: Help: Lost Poem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 May 02 - 08:51 PM

This might be worth investigating The American Verse Project