Written at the request of the Earl of Dufferin and Clandeboye, who had built a tower to the memory of his mother, Helen, Countess of Giffard, on a rock on his estate at Clandeboye, Ireland, and printed in the Pall Mall Gazette of December 2', 1883. WHO hears of Helen's Tower, may dream perchance How the Greek Beauty from the Scaean Gate Gazed on old friends unanimous in hate, Death-doom'd because of her fair countenance. Hearts would leap otherwise, at thy advance, Lady, to whom this Tower is consecrate! Like hers, thy face once made all eyes elate, Yet, unlike hers, was bless'd by every glance. The Tower of Hate is outworn, far and strange: A transitory shame of long ago, It dies into the sand from which it sprang; But thine, Love's rock-built Tower, shall fear no change: God's self laid stable earth's foundation so, When all the morning-stars together sang. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOMAGE TO SEXTUS PROPERTIUS: 10 by EZRA POUND INCIDENT OF THE FRENCH CAMP by ROBERT BROWNING DESERT FLOWERS by KEITH CASTELLAINE DOUGLAS AN ODE UPON A QUESTION WHETHER LOVE SHOULD CONTINUE FOREVER by EDWARD HERBERT LOVE'S YOUNG DREAM by THOMAS MOORE TO A CONTEMPORARY BUNKSHOOTER by CARL SANDBURG |