Merit

Hard words to vague pretension blast like Death,
And kill its feeble efforts with a breath;
But insults thrown on Merit's struggling way,
Are helpmates to her journey — not decay.
As fires lie smouldering till the wind sweeps past,
Then burst to flame and kindle with the blast;
So from the throes of envy, hate, and strife,
Genius bursts forth and breathes eternal life.
In vain the taunt would blight, the scoff would sear
Like cobweb network falls the gibe and sneer.
When Genius like a sun, burst from the cloud,
Throws forth her light, her mind is heard aloud;
The Nights of malice into light decay,
And aid her exaltation into Day.