THE brave old poets sing of nobler themes Than those weak griefs which harass craven souls; The torrent of their lusty music rolls Not through dark valleys of distempered dreams, But murmurous pastures lit by sunny streams; Or, rushing from some mountain height of thought, Swells to strange meaning that our minds have sought Vainly to gather from the doubtful gleams Of our more gross perceptions. Oh, their strains Nerve and ennoble manhood! no shrill cry, Set to a treble, tells of querulous woe; Yet numbers deep-voiced as the mighty main's Merge in the ringdove's plaining, or the sigh Of lovers whispering where sweet rivulets flow. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DYING DECADENT by LOUIS UNTERMEYER A MOMENT by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE A HOLIDAY by LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE SONNET: TO SLEEP by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH DOWN BY THE SALLEY GARDENS by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS A STIRRUP-CUP by DOUGLAS AINSLIE THE PLEASURES OF IMAGINATION; A POEM. ENLARGED VERSION: BOOK 4 by MARK AKENSIDE SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 33. RED DAWN by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |