WHEN I look forth at dawning, pool, Field, flock, and lonely tree, All seem to look at me Like chastened children sitting silent in a school; Their faces dulled, constrained, and worn, As though the master's ways Through the long teaching days Their first terrestrial zest had chilled and overborne. And on them stirs, in lippings mere (As if once clear in call, But now scarce breathed at all) -- "We wonder, ever wonder, why we find us here! "Has some Vast Imbecility, Mighty to build and blend, But impotent to tend, Framed us in jest, and left us now to hazardry? "Or come we of an Automaton Unconscious of our pains?... Or are we live remains Of Godhead dying downwards, brain and eye now gone? "Or is it that some high Plan betides, As yet not understood, Of Evil stormed by Good, We the Forlorn Hope over which Achievement strides?" Thus things around. No answerer I.... Meanwhile the winds, and rains, And Earth's old glooms and pains Are still the same, and gladdest Life Death neighbors nigh. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TAM O' SHANTER by ROBERT BURNS THE MARCH INTO VIRGINIA by HERMAN MELVILLE TRUST by LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 20 by PHILIP SIDNEY OUR MASTER by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER MAY DAY by ADELAIDE A. ANDREWS THE SOUL-PATH by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE CREOLE SLAVE SONG: THE DIRGE OF SY. MALO by GEORGE WASHINGTON CABLE |