High grew the snow beneath the low-hung sky, And all was silent in the wilderness; In trance of stillness Nature heard her God Rebuilding her spent fires, and veiled her face While the Great Worker brooded o'er His work. "Bite deep and wide, O Axe, the tree! What doth thy bold voice promise me?" "I promise thee all joyous things That furnish forth the lives of kings! "For every silver ringing blow, Cities and palaces shall grow!" "Bite deep and wide, O Axe, the tree! Tell wider prophecies to me." "When rust hath gnawed me deep and red, A nation strong shall lift his head. "His crown the very Heavens shall smite, AEons shall build him in his might!" "Bite deep and wide, O Axe, the tree; Bright Seer, help on thy prophecy!" Max smote the snow-weighed tree, and lightly laughed. "See, friend," he cried to one that looked and smiled, My axe and I -- we do immortal tasks-- We build up nations -- this my axe and I!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A LITTLE WHILE by HORATIO (HORATIUS) BONAR GREEK SONG: 1. THE STORM OF DELPHI by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS WHEN THE KYE CAME HOME by JAMES HOGG PARTED FRIENDS by JAMES MONTGOMERY SONNET: AT STRATFORD-UPON-AVON by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH CHARACTERS: SARAH RIGBY by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |