Thou father of the children of my brain By thee engendered in my willing heart, How can I thank thee for this gift of art Poured out so lavishly, and not in vain. What thou created never more can die, Thy fructifying power lives in me And I conceive, knowing it is by thee, Dear other parent of my poetry! For I was but a shadow with a name, Perhaps by now the very name's forgot; So strange is Fate that it has been my lot To learn through thee the presence of that aim Which evermore must guide me. All unknown, By me unguessed, by thee not even dreamed, A tree has blossomed in a night that seemed Of stubborn, barren wood. For thou hast sown This seed of beauty in a ground of truth. Humbly I dedicate myself, and yet I tremble with a sudden fear to set New music ringing through my fading youth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE SUN COMING OUT IN THE AFTERNOON by HENRY DAVID THOREAU THE HUSBAND'S PETITION by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN PSALM 137 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE THE DESCENDANT AND THE ID (MONOLOGUE IN REGARD TO HEREDITY) by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH THE ABIDING BURG (DEDICATION: TO THE SMALL TOWNS OF CHRISTENDOM) by WILFRED ROWLAND CHILDE SONNETS ON EMINENT CHARACTERS: 8. MRS. SIDDONS by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |