Red-gold and rough morocco are its covers, And sheerest paper bears its weight of truth, Alembic of its one-time lords and lovers, Distilled for wisdom of tomorrow's youth. This book was guarded once; securely chained In the reverberating draughty nave: Initialed and illuminate, it reigned, And, after interval, again shall save. It has awhile been a discarded thing, But columns shall review it on the morrow; Restored to power by its words that sing, Beloved, not for their triumph, but their sorrow, And streets shall pause to hear its harping word, With truth at rhythmic heel of song, its lord. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FROM THE WOOLWORTH TOWER by SARA TEASDALE GERONTION by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT EPITAPH FOR SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, AT ST. PAUL'S WITHOUT A MONUMENT ... by EDWARD HERBERT THE BALLAD OF THE FOXHUNTER by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS AH, BIND MY HANDS by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS THE DROWNED HIDALGO DREAMS by WILLIAM ROSE BENET PSALM 83 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |