HAS, then, our boyhood vanished, And rosy morning fled? Are faith and ardor banished, Is daring courage dead? Still runs the olden river By meadow, hill, and wood, -- Where are the hearts that ever Beat high with royal blood? The golden dreams we cherished Pacing the ancient town, -- Have they but bloomed and perished, And flown like thistledown? Nay, still the air is haunted With mystery as of old; Each blossom is enchanted, And every leaflet's fold. Not one fair hope we hearkened, But still to youth returns; Not one clear light hath darkened, -- Still for some breast it burns: Though age by age is lying Beneath the gathering mould, Life's dawn-light is undying, Its dreams grow never old. As the great faithful planet Goes plunging on its track, Thought still shall bravely man it, And steer through storm and wrack; While but three souls are toiling Who would give all for right, Whom gold nor fame is spoiling, Whose prayer is but for light; While there are found a handful Of spirits vowed to truth, Clear-eyed, courageous, manful, And comrades as in youth; Out of the darkness sunward, Out of the night to day, While all the worlds swing onward, Life shall not lose its way. When to the man-soul lonely The loving gods came down, Earth gave the mantle only, Free mind the immortal crown. Wild force with cloud-wraith stature Unsealed shall tower in vain, And the fierce Afreet, Nature, Obey the sceptred brain. O heart of man immortal, Beat on in love and cheer! Somewhere the cloudy portal Of all thy prayers shall clear. The fair earth's mighty measure Of life, untouched by rime, Through star-dust and through azure Rolls on to endless time. The power that motes inherit, That bud and crystal find, Hath not forgotten spirit, Nor left the soul behind. O'er Time's dumb forces fleeting This victory we begin, Dear eye-beams and the beating Of heart with heart shall win. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LWONESOMENESS by WILLIAM BARNES JOHN BURNS OF GETTYSBURG by FRANCIS BRET HARTE GOD'S GRANDEUR by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS SPRING by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY THE MAHOGANY TREE by WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY |