HERE stood a house; we now can only guess From what scant lore the bare foundation yields The building's fashion, whose calm comeliness Complacent looked across the fruitful fields, This was a home -- now fire has laughed and fled Leaving a wreck instead. THIS was a home for human comfort raised -- Now the shy creatures of the air and grass Nest in the blackened pit and start amazed If any human foot too near them pass. Merciless tranquil Nature takes again The land she lent to men. BUT pity not this house, for while it stood Its walls were warm with comfort and enshrined Glad hearts that savoured life and found it good. It was a temple of the quiet mind. Its very altar's consecrated glow Has wrought its overthrow. HERE was no shameful torture of decay; The vivid end with sudden glory came. In terrible beauty all was swept away, Man's dearest art translated into flame. So swift and shining may thy coming be, Enlightening Death, to me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IMPRESSIONS OF FRANCOIS-MARIE AROUET (DE VOLTAIRE) by EZRA POUND BEFORE THE RAIN by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE PROTESTATION by THOMAS CAREW ARABELLA STUART by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS JAMESON'S RIDE by ALFRED AUSTIN |