What are we first? First, animals; and next Intelligences at a leap; on whom Pale lies the distant shadow of the tomb, And all that draweth on the tomb for text. Into which state comes Love, the crowning sun: Beneath whose light the shadow loses form. We are the lords of life, and life is warm. Intelligence and instinct now are one. But nature says: 'My children most they seem When they least know me: therefore I decree That they shall suffer.' Swift doth young Love flee, And we stand wakened, shivering from our dream. Then if we study Nature we are wise. Thus do the few who live but with the day: The scientific animals are they. -- Lady, this is my sonnet to your eyes. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ANSWER TO A CHILD'S QUESTION by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE TWO SONGS: 2 by CECIL DAY LEWIS A MEDITATION FOR HIS MISTRESS by ROBERT HERRICK ODE ON THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON by ALFRED TENNYSON THE END OF IT by FRANCIS THOMPSON THE WAY OF SACRIFICE by MATTHEW ARNOLD |