HERE Icarus fell, the youth of dauntless heart, Who dared to wing his flight through heaven's domain-- Here fell his limbs, his plumes bestrewed the main, Whose fall doth envy to great souls impart. Blest travail of a mind, no perils thwart, Which drew such profit from so little pain; O happy loss, full of so vast a gain, Though vanquished, over time thou victor art. The untried path could not his youth repress, The power denied him, not the hardiness; The sun's fierce splendour lit his funeral pyre. He died; in glory's quest he found his doom, High heaven his glorious aim, the sea his tomb; How nobler fate, or richer grave desire? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BEFORE THE FLOWERS OF FRIENDSHIP FADED FADED: 21 by GERTRUDE STEIN A BALLAD OF THE FRENCH FLEET; OCTOBER, 1746 by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW PROMETHEUS BOUND: THE OVERTHROW OF ZEUS by AESCHYLUS THE BURIAL OF THE DANE by HENRY HOWARD BROWNELL PHYLLIS THE FAIR by ROBERT BURNS THE FIRST KISS AT PARTING by ROBERT BURNS |