Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DARWINISM, by AGNES MARY F. ROBINSON First Line: When first the unflowering fern-forest Last Line: End the new travail of the soul. Alternate Author Name(s): Duclaux, Madame Emile; Darmesteter, Mary; Robinson, A. Mary F. Subject(s): Darwin, Charles (1809-1882); Evolution | ||||||||
WHEN first the unflowering Fern-forest Shadowed the dim lagoons of old, A vague, unconscious, long unrest Swayed the great fronds of green and gold. Until the flexible stem grew rude, The fronds began to branch and bower, And lo! upon the unblossoming wood There breaks a dawn of apple-flower. Then on the fruitful forest-boughs For ages long the unquiet ape Swung happy in his airy house And plucked the apple, and sucked the grape. Until at length in him there stirred The old, unchanged, remote distress, That pierced his world of wind and bird With some divine unhappiness. Not love, nor the wild fruits he sought, Nor the fierce battles of his clan Could still the unborn and aching thought, Until the brute became the man. Long since; and now the same unrest Goads to the same invisible goal, Till some new gift, undream'd, unguess'd, End the new travail of the soul. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PENCIL STUB JOURNALS: ON EVOLUTION by JOHN CIARDI CELLS BREATHE IN THE EMPTINESS by GALWAY KINNELL A HUNDRED A DAY by DENISE LEVERTOV MANOKWARI, IRIAN JAYA; IN MEMORIAM, ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE by KAREN SWENSON LAY OF THE TRILOBITE by MAY EMMA GOLDWORTH KENDALL FROM STONE TO STEEL by EDWIN JOHN PRATT AN ORCHARD AT AVIGNON by AGNES MARY F. ROBINSON |
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