Poem: "Loss and Gain" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Public domain. Loss and Gain When I compareWhat I have lost with what I have gained,What I have missed with what attained,Little room do I find for pride.I am aware How many days have been idly spent;How like an arrow the good intentHas fallen short or been turned aside.But who shall dare To measure loss and gain in this wise?Defeat may be victory in disguise;The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.