Where the luminous deep skies Kindle passion's sullen fire, Heaven is to feed desire On a Houri's lips and eyes. But where duty's iron rod Terrifies a sterile land, 'Tis to tremble, harp in hand, Singing to a tyrant God. And where in a cloistered space Pines love's pale transplanted flower, 'Tis to bloom one blessed hour In the sunlight of love's face. But the days of splendid lust Are the fleeting summer days; Grievous grows Jehovah's praise; And the root of love is dust. First we hope and then we know: Old and sad and ever strange, In unprofitable change Thus the tide must ebb and flow. Folly was not meant to cease, Nor the hope calm wisdom gave When upon a mortal's grave She wrote only: Rest in peace. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WANDERING JEW by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON SONNET TO A CLAM by JOHN GODFREY SAXE ONE SHORT HOUR by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH THE WILD DUCK'S NEST by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH ON SEEING THE SUN SHINE ... MY WINDOW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE YEAR by LUCY AIKEN GREATER LOVE by ANTIPATER OF SIDON VILLAGE GREEN by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |