Alone! Alone! No beacon, far or near! No chart, no compass, and no anchor stay! Like melting fog, the mirage melts away In all-surrounding darkness, void and clear, Drifting, I spread vain hands, and vainly peer, And vainly call for pilot -- weep and pray; Beyond these limits not the faintest ray Shows the distant coast whereto the lost may steer. O what is Life, if we must hold it thus, As wind-blown sparks hold momentary fire? What are these gifts without the larger boon? O what is Art, or Wealth, or Fame to us Who scarce have time to know what we desire? O what is Love, if we must part so soon? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ONE WAY OF LOVE by ROBERT BROWNING BRAID CLAITH by ROBERT FERGUSSON TO THE UNKNOWN EROS: BOOK 2: 7. TO THE BODY by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE THE BURDEN OF NINEVEH by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE HIGHER PANTHEISM by ALFRED TENNYSON EUROPE; THE 72ND AND 73RD YEARS OF THESE STATES by WALT WHITMAN |