What are we first? First, animals; and next Intelligences at a leap; on whom Pale lies the distant shadow of the tomb, And all that draweth on the tomb for text. Into which state comes Love, the crowning sun: Beneath whose light the shadow loses form. We are the lords of life, and life is warm. Intelligence and instinct now are one. But nature says: 'My children most they seem When they least know me: therefore I decree That they shall suffer.' Swift doth young Love flee, And we stand wakened, shivering from our dream. Then if we study Nature we are wise. Thus do the few who live but with the day: The scientific animals are they. -- Lady, this is my sonnet to your eyes. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HE WISHES FOR THE CLOTHS OF HEAVEN by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS SPRING WATER by KENNETH SLADE ALLING TO MRS -- RETURNING FINE HYACINTH PLANT AFTER BLOOM IS OVER by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE PASSING BELL by GORDON BOTTOMLEY THE WILD HORSE by MARY ANN BROWNE THE SPHINX by HENRY HOWARD BROWNELL |