Thou for whose birth the whole creation yearned Through countless ages of the morning world, Who, first in fiery vapors dimly hurled, Next to the senseless crystal slowly turned, Then to the plant which grew to something more, -- Humblest of creatures that draw breath of life,-- Wherefrom through infinites of patient pain Came conscious man to reason and adore: Shall we be shamed because such things have been, Or hate one jot of our ancestral pride? Nay, in thyself art thou not deified That from such depths thou couldst such summits win? While the long way behind is prophecy Of those perfections which are yet to be. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MERLIN by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON THE KING'S JEWEL by PHOEBE CARY SONNET (ON RECEIVING A LETTER INFORMING ME OF THE BIRTH OF A SON) by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 40 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN THE NEW INN: A VISION OF BEAUTY by BEN JONSON THE BASE OF ALL METAPHYSICS by WALT WHITMAN SONG AT THE FEAST OF BROUGHAM CASTLE; UPON RSTORATION OF LORD CLIFFORD by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |