'O MONSTROUS, dead, unprofitable world, That thou canst hear, and hearing, hold thy way. A voice oracular hath peal'd to-day, To-day a hero's banner is unfurl'd. Hast thou no lip for welcome?' So I said. Man after man, the world smil'd and pass'd by: A smile of wistful incredulity As though one spake of noise unto the dead: Scornful, and strange, and sorrowful; and full Of bitter knowledge. Yet the Will is free: Strong is the Soul, and wise, and beautiful: The seeds of godlike power are in us still: Gods are we, Bards, Saints, Heroes, if we will.-- Dumb judges, answer, truth or mockery? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OVER THE HILL TO THE POOR-HOUSE by WILLIAM MCKENDREE CARLETON AFTER THE QUARREL by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR ARNOLD [VON] WINKELRIED by JAMES MONTGOMERY CELIA'S HOMECOMING by AGNES MARY F. ROBINSON MONNA INNOMINATA, A SONNET OF SONNETS: 1 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI DEATH THE LEVELLER, FR. THE CONTENTION OF AJAX AND ULYSSES by JAMES SHIRLEY UNDER MY WINDOW by THOMAS WESTWOOD |