THY greatest knew thee, Mother Earth; unsoured He knew thy sons. He probed from hell to hell Of human passions, but of love deflowered His wisdom was not, for he knew thee well. Thence came the honeyed corner at his lips, The conquering smile wherein his spirit sails Calm as the God who the white sea-wave whips, Yet full of speech and intershifting tales, Close mirrors of us: thence had he the laugh We feel is thine: broad as ten thousand beeves At pasture! thence thy songs, that winnow chaff From grain, bid sick Philosophy's last leaves Whirl, if they have no response -- they enforced To fatten Earth when from her soul divorced. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BETRAND AND GOURGAUD TALK OVER OLD TIMES by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE IRISH SPINNING-WHEEL by ALFRED PERCEVAL GRAVES THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 6. THE KISS by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI BIVOUAC ON A MOUNTAIN SIDE by WALT WHITMAN FOOTLIGHT MOTIFS: 1. MRS. VERNON CASTLE by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 32. 'LO! ONE CALLS' by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |