Ride thou for the crest, Beauty to thy breast, Life's alert unrest Tugging at the bridle-rein! Now by nothing cowed Life above the crowd Kinder sight than proud, Humor beating down disdain. Silvern to thine ear, Heavenly bells to hear Ring and ripple clear Through the clouds of thine ascent, On this narrow edge Where but eagles fledge, Though the thunder's sledge Crack the lowering firmament. Pine and mountain-ash Splintered in that flash? Bid thine heart abash Not one whit—nor do thou swerve, Though beset by wrath, On the tortuous path From one fear it hath! All is planned to test thy nerve. Is it hard to hold, Through the numbing cold, Onward, blithe and bold, Relishing the thrills of pain, And with sigh nor groan Upward to no throne, For the light alone In thy soul—that seems to wane? Yet, what would'st thou here, On this swarming sphere, Save to feed one clear Light within, as best thou may'st? Save each day again, Fresh with strength for ten, To achieve with men Through the trials God hath graced? Holding not aloof, In thy light's behoof Daring, showing proof That good heart is thine and will; Littleness abhorred; Wary of reward; Bidding light afford Farther light beyond thee still. Thus, with love for one And her love alone More than lip may own, Raising her who raiseth thee, Strive nor apprehend! Make thy heart thy friend! Look beyond the end For that beauty yet to be! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON CARPACCIO'S PICTURE: THE DREAM OF ST. URSALA; SONNET by AMY LOWELL STUDY FOR A GEOGRAPHICAL TRAIL; 3. WASHINGTON, D.C. by CLARENCE MAJOR LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER; A PARAPHRASE OF THE 102ND PSALM by JOHN CLARE EPITAPH ON A HARE by WILLIAM COWPER THE RABBIT by ELIZABETH MADOX ROBERTS SONNET: HENRY HOWARD BROWNELL by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |