How many a budding plant is born to fade! How many a May bloom wilt with quick decay! Ofttimes the ruddiest rose holds briefest sway, While heart and sense are evermore betrayed Alike in nature's shine and nature's shade. Vainly earth-tendered seeds have sought the day, And countless threads of rivulets wind astray, For one that joins the vast main unembayed. O prodigal nature, why this spendthrift waste Of light, strength, beauty given to earth or man? Thy richest realm may lie in trackless seas, Thy tenderest loves, perchance, die unembraced; While faith and reason watch thy 'wildering plan, The baffled soul's cloud-compassed Hyades! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LINES ON CARMEN SYLVA by EMMA LAZARUS REMEMBERED WOMEN by CARL SANDBURG SUNSET FROM OMAHA HOTEL WINDOW by CARL SANDBURG SECOND OPINION by STEPHEN CUSHMAN SUNSET AND SUNRISE by EMILY DICKINSON THE NATIONAL PAINTINGS: COL. TRUMBULL'S 'THE DECLARATION...' by FITZ-GREENE HALLECK SEA SLUMBER-SONG by RODEN BERKELEY WRIOTHESLEY NOEL |