THINK! the gods have been among us, seen us, marked our speech and tone, Touched the smallness of our natures with the largeness of their own, Deigned to walk the path beside us, in our homes to eat and drink, They, the deathless, ever-blessed—O my comrades, do you think? And we watched them, never dreaming they were more than common men,— Though we heard their gracious language, though again and yet again We beheld the generous fashion which they used in going through Every task and every duty given unto men to do,— Till the great occasion called them, showed their stature to us, drew Off the vail that hid their faces, as they vanished and we knew. Hush! they may be walking round us in the twilight—who shall say?— Others of the gods, and seeking if we give them yea or nay, We, the deaf ones, we, the blind ones, needing better ears and eyes To discern the great immortals through whatever strange disguise, That, amid the blaze of noonday or the evening's purple glow, We may heed them, know them, love them, ere these also rise and go. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE COUNTESS CATHLEEN IN PARADISE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE CANTERBURY TALES: THE GENERAL PROLOGUE by GEOFFREY CHAUCER THE COMPLAINT by JOSEPH BEAUMONT PSALMS 71. PRAYER AND SONG OF THE AGED CHRISTIAN by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE THE PLACE OF FAME by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB TWO SEASONS by CLARENCE BLENDON BURLEIGH GLIMPSES OF ITALY: 1. IN AN ITALIAN HILL TOWN by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON |