'O MONSTROUS, dead, unprofitable world, That thou canst hear, and hearing, hold thy way. A voice oracular hath peal'd to-day, To-day a hero's banner is unfurl'd. Hast thou no lip for welcome?' So I said. Man after man, the world smil'd and pass'd by: A smile of wistful incredulity As though one spake of noise unto the dead: Scornful, and strange, and sorrowful; and full Of bitter knowledge. Yet the Will is free: Strong is the Soul, and wise, and beautiful: The seeds of godlike power are in us still: Gods are we, Bards, Saints, Heroes, if we will.-- Dumb judges, answer, truth or mockery? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RESOLVE by ALEXANDER BROME OUT OF THE OLD HOUSE, NANCY by WILLIAM MCKENDREE CARLETON A MORNING HYMN by CHARLES WESLEY PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 89, 90. MU'HTI, MANI'H by EDWIN ARNOLD THE FLIGHT OF THE WAR-EAGLE by OBADIAH CYRUS AURINGER AN OLD SAW NEWLY RENDERED by LEVI BISHOP THE BATTLE OF THE FLOWERS by MATHILDE BLIND |