They seem to smile as others smile, the masquerader's art Conceals them, while, in verity, they're eating out their heart, Betwixt the two contending stones of crass humanity They lie, the fretted fabric of a dual dynasty. A single drop, a sable strain debars them from their own,— The others—fold them furtively, but God! they are alone, Blown by the fickle winds of fate far from the traveled mart To die, when they have quite consumed the morsel of their heart. When man shall lift his lowered eyes to meet the moon of truth, Shall break the shallow shell of pride and wax in ways of ruth, He cannot hate, for love shall reign untrammelled in the soul, While peace shall spread a rainbow o'er the earth from pole to pole. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONSECRATED GROUND; READ AT THE NEW YORK CITY HALL by EDWIN MARKHAM THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD: PASTORAL 3. THE HAPPY COUNTRYMAN by NICHOLAS BRETON INTERNAL FIRESIDES by MATHILDE BLIND CHANGES by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON AN IDLE SONG by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR MASQUE AT THE MARRIAGE OF THE LORD HAYES: SONG OF THE TRANSFORMATION by THOMAS CAMPION |