(For A. K. K.) What distant mountains thrill and glow Beneath our Lady Folly's tread? Why has she left us, wise in woe, Shrewd, practical, uncomforted? We cannot love or dream or sing, We are too cynical to pray, There is no joy in anything Since Lady Folly went away. Many a knight and gentle maid, Whose glory shines from years gone by, Through ignorance was unafraid And as a fool knew how to die. Saint Folly rode beside Jehanne And broke the ranks of Hell with her, And Folly's smile shone brightly on Christ's plaything, Brother Juniper. Our minds are troubled and defiled By study in a weary school. O for the folly of the child! The ready courage of the fool! Lord, crush our knowledge utterly And make us humble, simple men; And cleansed of wisdom, let us see Our Lady Folly's face again. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CLARE'S DRAGOONS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE CREATION (A NEGRO SERMON) by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON A TURKISH LEGEND by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH VENDEMIAIRE by GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE FELIX OPPORTUNITATE MORTIS by ALFRED AUSTIN THE DOCTOR by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN A SPENDTHRIFT by EDWARD GEORGE EARLE LYTTON BULWER-LYTTON THE WANDERER: 1. IN ITALY: VENICE by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON |