A burning city's raging ire Assailed with storms of biting fire A tower fair in sculptured stone, That braved the flames, and stood alone. Blackened it stood, and scarred and drear, Through many a long revolving year, Until once more the hearts of men Impelled them there to build again; When, lo! a curious thing was found: The tower courses near the ground, Fused by the fire, had kept their form Through cracking frost and beating storm, While all the tower's lofty spire, Untouched by that fierce-friendly fire, Had lost its graces day by day, And crumbled utterly away. Ah, thus, my timorous soul, receive The woes that sadden and bereave! They sear the life, but haply still Confirm the faith, inure the will, And fuse the spirit, soft and slight, To diamond and chrysolite! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE TO THE BROWN PAPER BAG by JAMES GALVIN ON BRODSKY'S COLLECTED by MICHAEL S. HARPER LETHE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON PEACE (1) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON QUEST by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE NEW APOCRYPHA: BUSINESS REVERSES by EDGAR LEE MASTERS KILLED IN ACTION by ISAAC ROSENBERG |