ONE launched a ship, but she was wrecked at sea; He built a bridge, but floods have borne it down; He meant much good, none came: strange destiny, His corn lies sunk, his bridge bears none to town, Yet good he had not meant became his crown; For once at work, when even as nature free, From thought of good he was, or of renown, God took the work for good and let good be. So wakened with a trembling after sleep, Dread Mona Roa yields her fateful store; All gleaming hot the scarlet rivers creep, And fanned of great-leaved palms slip to the shore, Then stolen to unplumbed wastes of that far deep, Lay the foundations for one island more. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SEVEN TIMES ONE [- CHILDHOOD. EXULTATION] by JEAN INGELOW THE HAPPY LIFE by MARCUS VALERIUS MARTIALIS A DIRGE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY AFTER THE SOIREE by F. R. D. B. THE CONSOLATION by LEVI BISHOP A BALLAD OF DEAD GIRLS by DANA BURNET ON JOHN DOVE [JOHNNY DOW], INNKEEPER OF MAUCHLINE by ROBERT BURNS |