Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ODE ON THE OPENING OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE, MAY 10,1893, by LEWIS MORRIS (1833-1907)


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ODE ON THE OPENING OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE, MAY 10,1893, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Six years have fled since rose amid the flowers
Last Line: In unity and peace!
Subject(s): Imperialism


SIX years have fled since rose amid the flowers
The vast pavilion with its courtly throng,
And with the trumpets' blare, to prayer and song,
Where soars to-day a coronal of towers,
The Empire swept along.

Long years! To-day the same Imperial hand
Which laid the granite holds a golden key,
Fair token of the visible unity
Which binds together, while these proud walls stand,
Our Britain, land and sea.

To-day our dream, embodied, greets our eyes,
A thousand toiling brains and hands have wrought,
The worker's willing strength, the provident thought,
And lo! the aery domes and towers arise
Clear on the vernal skies.

Not of our colder Northern Art sedate,
But lighter, blending East and West in one,
A flower of Fancy, quickened by the sun,
Yet keeping still, to guard our Regal state,
The Lions at the gate.

And thro' the stately chambers everywhere,
And corridors, with veined marbles, fine,
The treasures of the wood, the sea, the mine
All kindly fruits, our wide dominions bear,
And corn, and oil, and wine,

With all the gains enfranchised Labour brings,
Are ranged to-day to deck these ordered halls,
Whereon no shadow of the sheathed sword falls,
But Peace, an angel, folds her golden wings,
And Commerce smiling calls.

Dream, Prince, the dream which drew thy Sire and thee:
The Imperial dream! Here let the toiler come
And find sure guidance to his waiting home
And honest work, and rear in days to be
New Britains over sea.

Here let the Daughter-Nations, East and West,
And North and South, take counsel and discern
How fair the Mighty Mother is, and yearn
With love renewed, content awhile to rest
Safe on her loving breast;

Till drawn together nearer, they shall bind
Close bonds of love for all of British blood!
Then, all our subject-realms in brotherhood!
Then, our great alien kinsmen, heart and mind!
Then, if Heaven will, Mankind!

Peal, joy-bells, unawakened yet, nor cease!
Peal till our isles and continents rejoice!
Fling, far and wide, a new harmonious voice,
While thro' long ages yet our realms increase!
In Unity and Peace!





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