MILTON! thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; Oh! raise us up, return to us again; And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. Thy soul was like a star, and dwelt apart: Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens. majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BANJO SONG by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON LWONESOMENESS by WILLIAM BARNES SHIPS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR PROMISES LIKE A PIE-CRUST by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE EPITAPH IN FORM OF A BALLAD by FRANCOIS VILLON |