I feel myself in need Of the inspiring strains of ancient lore, My heart to lift, my empty mind to feed, And all the world explore. I know that I am old And never can recover what is past, But for the future may some light unfold And soar from ages blast. I feel resolved to try, My wish to prove, my calling to pursue, Or mount up from the earth into the sky, To show what Heaven can do. My genius from a boy, Has fluttered like a bird within my heart; But could not thus confined her powers employ, Impatient to depart. She, like a restless bird, Would spread her wing, her power to be unfurl'd, And let her songs be loudly heard, And dart from world to world. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN EPITAPH by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE THE DAFT DAYS by ROBERT FERGUSSON MYRRHA by VITTORIO AMEDEO ALFIERI I GREET THEE by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 11. LOVE WILL OUT by PHILIP AYRES TWELVE SONNETS: 3. THE VALLEY ROSES by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |