HADST thou a genius on thy peak, What tales, white-headed Ben, Couldst thou of ancient ages speak, That mock th' historian's pen! Thy long duration makes our lives Seem but so many hours; And likens to the bees' frail hives Our most stupendous towers. Temples and towers thou'st seen begun, New creeds, new conquerors' sway; And, like their shadows in the sun, Hast seen them swept away. Thy steadfast summit, heaven-allied, (Unlike life's little span,) Looks down, a Mentor, on the pride Of perishable man. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...QUI S'EXCUSE S'ACCUSE by MARIANNE MOORE TO W.P.: 4 by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE WANDER-LOVERS by RICHARD HOVEY THE SONG OF HIAWATHA: HIAWATHA'S DEPARTURE by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW MARCHING (AS SEEN FROM THE LEFT FILE) by ISAAC ROSENBERG |