I HAVE seen higher, holier things than these, And therefore must to these refuse my heart, Yet am I panting for a little ease; I'll take, and so depart. Ah, hold! the heart is prone to fall away, Her high and cherished visions to forget, And if thou takest, how wilt thou repay So vast, so dread a debt? How will the heart, which now thou trustest, then Corrupt, yet in corruption mindful yet, Turn with sharp stings upon itself! Again, Bethink thee of the debt! -- Hast thou seen higher, holier things than these, And therefore must to these thy heart refuse? With the true best, alack, how ill agrees That best that thou would'st choose! The Summum Pulchrum rests in heaven above; Do thou, as best thou may'st, thy duty do: Amid the things allowed thee live and love; Some day thou shalt it view. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONG OF THE WAVE by ROBERT FROST LOVELIGHT by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON PRIDE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON FREE FANTASIA ON JAPANESE THEMES by AMY LOWELL HOUSE WITH THE MARBLE STEPS by AMY LOWELL ANCHORED TO THE INFINITE by EDWIN MARKHAM I PAY MY DEBT FOR LAFAYETTE AND ROCHAMBEAU' by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |