Not solely that the Future she destroys, And the fair life which in the distance lies For all men, beckoning out from dim rich skies: Nor that the passing hour's supporting joys Have lost the keen-edged flavour, which begat Distinction in old times, and still should breed Sweet Memory, and Hope, -- earth's modest seed, And heaven's high-prompting: not that the world is flat Since that soft-luring creature I embraced Among the children of Illusion went: Methinks with all this loss I were content, If the mad Past, on which my foot is based, Were firm, or might be blotted: but the whole Of life is mixed: the mocking Past will stay: And if I drink oblivion of a day, So shorten I the stature of my soul. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 3. FULL MOON by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER ON A FLOWER FROM THE FIELD OF GRUTLI by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS BABY RUNNING BAREFOOT by DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE STRANGE MEETINGS: 10 by HAROLD MONRO THERE IS NO LOVING AFTER DEATH by ASCLEPIADES OF SAMOS A SONNET. ON THE DEATH OF SYLVIA by PHILIP AYRES GERARDA by ELOISE ALBERTA VERONICA BIBB |