SPIRIT, that lookest from the starry fold Of truth's white flock, next to thy Milton there Accept my reverence though but feebly told. And oh! My heart from thy example rare Henceforth its being for worthiest ends would bear. Thy deeds, though plain, were towering all and bold, And like the stedfast columns that uphold Some awful temple, to thy duty were. How much thy story has enlarged my ken Of real greatness! Of mere conquerors I Read but with anger, or with shame; but when Of thee, uplifted into virtue's sky, I glory in my brotherhood with men, And feel how nobly all may live and die. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK by HERMAN MELVILLE THE FOURTH OF JULY by JOHN PIERPONT EPIGRAM ENGRAVED ON THE COLLAR OF A DOG by ALEXANDER POPE ALCAICS: TO H. F. BROWN by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON A MOOD by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH POEM FOR PICTURE: TO AN OIL PAINTING BY WINSLOW HOMER (DRIFTWOOD) by FRANK ANKENBRAND JR. |