Man hungers long. Into his cup is poured Wine of pearled brilliance or of flaming dyes From gold and silvern ewers of the skies -- The sun and moon. And on his banquet-board Rich lands of romance, glamorous seas, afford His vision viands. Yet with upturned eyes Like to poor Phineus, he still descries The shadows overhead, the birds abhorred. Ye dark enigmas of this universe, Cloud not my feast! God, give me thoughts to face And rend despair, as did the winged twain Who soared above the baffled guests of Thrace And hurled the harpies of Jove's ancient curse To whirlwind ruin o'er the Ionian main! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONTRA MORTEM: THE WHEEL OF BEING I by HAYDEN CARRUTH CHILDE ROLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME' by ROBERT BROWNING FRIENDSHIP by RALPH WALDO EMERSON THE BOYS by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES ON VISITING THE TOMB OF BURNS by JOHN KEATS CROSSING THE BAR by ALFRED TENNYSON |