Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger's tooth, Stealing my breath of life, I will confess I love this cultured hell that tests my youth! Her vigor flows like tides into my blood, Giving me strength erect against her hate. Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood. Yet as a rebel fronts a king in state, I stand within her walls with not a shred Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer. Darkly I gaze into the days ahead, And see her might and granite wonders there, Beneath the touch of Time's unerring hand, Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HYMN ON SOLITUDE by JAMES THOMSON (1700-1748) BEGGAR TO BEGGAR CRIED by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS ON THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF READING MATTER by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS SEVEN SAD SONNETS: 7. THEY MEET AGAIN by MARY REYNOLDS ALDIS THE MINSTREL; OR, THE PROGRESS OF GENIUS by JAMES BEATTIE IN A ROSE GARDEN by JOHN BENNETT (1865-1956) SEA BUTTERFLIES by DON BLANDING |