Impregnable I held myself, secure Against intrusion. Who can measure Man? How should I guess his mortal will outran Defeat so far that danger could allure For its own sake? -- that he would all endure, All sacrifice, all suffer, rather than Forego the daring dreams Olympian That prophesy to him of victory sure? Ah, tameless courage! -- dominating power That, all attempting, in a deathless hour Made earth-born Titans godlike, in revolt! -- Fear is the fire that melts Icarian wings: Who fears nor Fate, nor Time, nor what Time brings, May drive Apollo's steeds, or wield the thunderbolt! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NURSING HOME: THE DOLL by KAREN SWENSON A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 3. AMARYLLIS by THOMAS CAMPION A PATCH OF OLD SNOW by ROBERT FROST RELIGION AND DOCTRINE by JOHN MILTON HAY A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 5. HIS DISCOURSE WITH CUPID by BEN JONSON THE CROWING OF THE RED COCK by EMMA LAZARUS TELLING THE BEES by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER EPITAPH ON MR. VAUX, THE PHYSICIAN by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |