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...THE IMPOSSIBLE INDISPENSIBILITY OF THE ARS POETICA by HAYDEN CARRUTH NOTES FOR THE FIRST LINE OF A SPANISH POEM by JAMES GALVIN THE LADY'S 'YES' by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING OLNEY HYMNS: 9. THE CONTRITE HEART by WILLIAM COWPER BIRD AND BROOK by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES THE PROGRESS OF POETRY by JONATHAN SWIFT |