WHERE shall the minstrel find a theme? Where'er, for freedom shed, Brave blood hath dyed some ancient stream Amidst the mountains, red. Where'er a rock, a fount, a grove, Bears record to the faith Of love, deep, holy, fervent love, Victor of fear and death. Where'er a spire points up to Heaven, Through storm and summer air, Telling that all around have striven, Man's heart, and hope, and prayer. Where'er a chieftain's crested brow In its pride hath been struck down, Or a bright-haired virgin head laid low, Wearing its youth's first crown. Where'er a home and hearth have been, That now are man's no more; A place of ivy, freshly green, Where laughter's light is o'er. Where'er, by some forsaken grave, Some nameless greensward heap, A bird may sing, a violet wave, A star its vigil keep; Or where a yearning heart of old, Or a dream of shepherd men, With forms of more than earthly mould, Hath peopled grot or glen. There may the bard's high themes be We die, we pass away; But faith, love, pity -- these are bound found -- To earth without decay. The heart that burns, the cheek that glows, The tear from hidden springs, The thorn, and glory of the rose -- These are undying things. Wave after wave of mighty stream, To the deep sea hath gone; Yet not the less, like youth's bright dream, The exhaustless flood rolls on. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SUPREME by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DOMESDAY BOOK: ARCHIBALD LOWELL by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THIRD BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 17. A LOVER'S PLEA by THOMAS CAMPION ODE INSCRIBED TO W.H. CHANNING by RALPH WALDO EMERSON A PATCH OF OLD SNOW by ROBERT FROST |