Living

The Talisman

by Henry van Dyke 1852–1933

From The Poems of Henry van Dyke (1925)

Living

What is Fortune, what is Fame?
Futile gold and phantom name,--
Riches buried in a cave,
Glory written on a grave.

What is Friendship? Something deep
That the heart can spend and keep:
Wealth that greatens while we give,
Praise that heartens us to live.

Come, my friend, and let us prove
Life's true talisman is love!
By this charm we shall elude
Poverty and solitude.

✦ ✦ ✦

From "Epigrams, Greetings, and Inscriptions". Dated January 21, 1914 in the source.

MLA

Dyke, Henry van. “The Talisman.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/vandyke/114/.

Chicago

Dyke, Henry van. “The Talisman.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/vandyke/114/.

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