Not solely that the Future she destroys, And the fair life which in the distance lies For all men, beckoning out from dim rich skies: Nor that the passing hour's supporting joys Have lost the keen-edged flavour, which begat Distinction in old times, and still should breed Sweet Memory, and Hope, -- earth's modest seed, And heaven's high-prompting: not that the world is flat Since that soft-luring creature I embraced Among the children of Illusion went: Methinks with all this loss I were content, If the mad Past, on which my foot is based, Were firm, or might be blotted: but the whole Of life is mixed: the mocking Past will stay: And if I drink oblivion of a day, So shorten I the stature of my soul. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A NEGRO LOVE SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 49 by PHILIP SIDNEY TO THE MEMORY OF THOMAS HOOD by BARTHOLOMEW SIMMONS SEVEN SAD SONNETS: 2. THE OTHER ONE COMES TO HER by MARY REYNOLDS ALDIS THE LAY OF THE LOVER'S FRIEND by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN THE WORD OF SUMMER by ELSA BARKER |