Who loves not Knowledge? Who shall rail Against her beauty? May she mix With men and prosper! Who shall fix Her pillars? Let her work prevail. But on her forehead sits a fire; She sets her forward countenance And leaps into the future chance, Submitting all things to desire. Half-grown as yet, a child, and vain -- She cannot fight the fear of death. What is she, cut from love and faith, But some wild Pallas from the brain Of demons? fiery-hot to burst All barriers in her onward race For power. Let her know her place; She is the second, not the first. A higher hand must make her mild, If all be not in vain, and guide Her footsteps, moving side by side With Wisdom, like the younger child; For she is earthly of the mind, But Wisdom heavenly of the soul. O friend, who camest to thy goal So early, leaving me behind, I would the great world grew like thee, Who grewest not alone in power And knowledge, but by year and hour In reverence and in charity. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UPON HIS DEPARTURE HENCE by ROBERT HERRICK BELISARIUS by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW FIRST-DAY THOUGHTS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER MYRMIDONES: THE WOUNDED EAGLE by AESCHYLUS ON THE DEATH OF A DAUGHTER by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM MAUDLIN'S SONG: 2 by GORDON BOTTOMLEY |