WITHHOLD thy love, though life betrays, No whit, but dream and still desire; And bare thy heart on human ways Though nought but wounds fulfil desire. Though all be vain, in truth still trust; Still love, desire and dream amain; So soon the heart returns to dust, With love now let it teem amain. Drink deep of art and human worth; Heart high pursue thy loyal way; Still walk as poet lord of earth, Wear purple robes in royal way. For love and dream alone are true: Like swords of lightning crossed in air, Athwart the heaven's starless blue Our life's a flame that's lost in air. Alone in ardent passion's light Our eyes see clearly ere we go Into an everlasting night With no return from where we go. Consume thy brand, throw wide thy spark, And let the flame upthrust again; Think of the grave's unending dark When thou art turned to dust again. So near us yawns the dreadful pit; Or ere we plunge beyond desire, Now let the brand of life be lit, O heart fulfil thy fond desire! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LUCIFER IN STARLIGHT by GEORGE MEREDITH ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 110 by PHILIP SIDNEY ON THE STATUE OF AN ANGEL, BY BIENAIME by WASHINGTON ALLSTON THE VALEDICTION by RICHARD BAXTER A CONCLUSORIE HUMNE TO THE SAME WEEK; & FOR MY FRIEND by JOSEPH BEAUMONT THE MYSTIC CIRCLE by ABBIE FARWELL BROWN HAYING TIME IN VERMONT by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY BLANK MISGIVINGS OF A CREATURE MOVING ABOUT IN WORLDS NOT REALIZED: 2 by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH LINES WRITTEN ON A WINDOW-SHUTTER AT WESTON by WILLIAM COWPER |