Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CUI BONO?, by THOMAS CARLYLE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CUI BONO?, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: What is hope? A smiling rainbow
Last Line: One small grave is what he gets.
Subject(s): Hope; Life; Mankind


WHAT is hope? A smiling rainbow
Children follow through the wet:
'Tis not here, still yonder, yonder;
Never urchin found it yet!

What is life? A thawing ice-board,
On a sea with sunny shore—
Gay we sail: it melts beneath us;
We are sunk, and seen no more

What is man? A foolish baby,
Vainly strives, and fights, and frets;
Demanding all, deserving nothing—
One small grave is what he gets.





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