How could Rome live so long, and now be dead? How came this waste and wilderness of stones? How shows the orbed monster, so long fed On martyr-blood, his bare and crumbling bones? Did the strong Faith, that built eight hundred years Of world-dominion on a robber's name, Once animate this corse, and fervent seers Augur it endless life and shadeless fame? Stranger! if thou a docile heart dost bring Within thee, bear a timely precept hence; That Power, mere Power, is but a barren thing, Even when it seems most like omnipotence; The forms @3must@1 pass, -- and past, they leave behind Little to please, and nought to bless mankind. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...POSSUM SONG (A WARNING) by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE POWER OF ART by GEORGE SANTAYANA BUCOLIC COMEDY: SPINNING SONG by EDITH SITWELL CORINNA TO TANAGRA, FROM ATHENS by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR ODES I, 38. AD MINISTRAM by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS ISLE OF BEAUTY by THOMAS HAYNES BAYLY |