"GREAT father Alighieri, if from the skies This thy disciple prostrate thou dost see Before thy gravestone, shaken with deep sighs, O turn thou not in wrathfulness from me! O of thy kindness, favouring pure desires, Illuminate me with a ray of thine; Must who to pristine, deathless fame aspires Take arms 'gainst envy and each fell design?" "I did so, son, to my great sorrow, for Thereby the names of men too vile to tread Under my feet are heard for evermore. If thou dost trust in me, why droop thy head? Go thunder, triumph, and if thou shouldst chance To meet with such, pass by nor deign a glance." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPITAPH: FOR MY GRANDMOTHER by COUNTEE CULLEN THE SELF-UNSEEING by THOMAS HARDY HIS PRAYER TO BEN JONSON by ROBERT HERRICK SUMMER MATURES by HELENE JOHNSON THE EVE OF BUNKER HILL [JUNE 16, 1775] by CLINTON SCOLLARD OUR MODEST DOUGHBOYS by CHARLTON ANDREWS THE GARLAND OF SLEEP by AUGUSTE ANGELLIER |