I feel myself in need Of the inspiring strains of ancient lore, My heart to lift, my empty mind to feed, And all the world explore. I know that I am old And never can recover what is past, But for the future may some light unfold And soar from ages blast. I feel resolved to try, My wish to prove, my calling to pursue, Or mount up from the earth into the sky, To show what Heaven can do. My genius from a boy, Has fluttered like a bird within my heart; But could not thus confined her powers employ, Impatient to depart. She, like a restless bird, Would spread her wing, her power to be unfurl'd, And let her songs be loudly heard, And dart from world to world. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MARSEILLAISE by CLAUDE JOSEPH ROUGET DE LISLE SUMMER NIGHT, RIVERSIDE by SARA TEASDALE THE ROVER O' LOCHRYAN by HEW AINSLIE THE GODS AND THE WINDS by ALEXANDER ANDERSON SPRING IS NOT THE ASH by MARVIN BARRETT ON MEMORIAL DAY by EMMA BERGSTROM |