ABOUT these roaring cylinders Where leaping words and paper mate, A sudden glory moves and stirs -- An inky cataract in spate! What voice for falsehood or for truth, What hearts attentive to be stirred -- How dimly understood, in sooth, The power of the printed word! These flashing webs and cogs of steel Have shaken empires, routed kings, Yet never turn too fast to feel The tragedies of humble things. O words, be strict in honesty, Be just and simple and serene; O rhymes, sing true, or you will be Unworthy of this great machine! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DRAW THE SWORD, O REPUBLIC by EDGAR LEE MASTERS A PROBLEM IN AESTHETICS by KAREN SWENSON THE FRIEND OF HUMANITY AND THE KNIFE-GRINDER by GEORGE CANNING THE MOUSE'S LULLABY by PALMER COX FAR - FAR - AWAY (FOR MUSIC) by ALFRED TENNYSON STANZAS ON THE DEATH OF A CHILD by BERNARD BARTON |