TAKE down thy stars, O God! We look not up. In vain thou hangest there thy changeless sign. We lift our eyes to power's glowing cup, Nor care if blood make strong that wizard wine, So we but drink and feel the sorcery Of conquest in our veins, of wits grown keen In strain and strife for flesh-sweet sovereignty,— The fatal thrill of kingship over men. What though the soul be from the body shrunk, And we array the temple, but no god? What though, the cup of golden greed once drunk, Our dust be laid in a dishonoured sod, While thy loud hosts proclaim the end of wars? We read no sign. O God, take down thy stars! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THREE SONNETS by RICHARD WILBUR THE NEGRO'S TRAGEDY by CLAUDE MCKAY AN INSINCERE WISH ADDRESSED TO A BEGGAR by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE THE BELLS OF HEAVEN by RALPH HODGSON HYMN OF PAN by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY AFTER THE NIGHT by NOUREDDIN ADDIS |