I. WHEN late I watched the arrows of the sleet Against the windows of the Tavern beat, I heard a Rose that murmured from her Pot: "Why trudge thy fellows yonder in the Street? II. "Before the phantom of False Morning dies, Choked in the bitter Net that binds the skies, Their feet, bemired with Yesterday, set out For the dark alleys where To-morrow lies. III. "Think you, when all their petals they have bruised, And all the fragrances of Life confused, That Night with sweeter rest will comfort these Than us, who still within the Garden mused? IV. "Think you the Gold they fight for all day long Is worth the frugal Peace their clamours wrong? Their Titles, and the Name they toil to build -- Will they outlast the echoes of our Song?" V. O Sons of Omar, what shall be the close Seek not to know, for no man living knows: But while within your hands the Wine is set Drink ye -- to Omar and the Dreaming Rose! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GONE by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE THE LADDER OF SAINT AUGUSTINE by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 49. WILLOWWOOD (1) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI EPITAPH FOR LINCOLN by WALT WHITMAN CELEBRATION ODE by LYMAN WHITNEY ALLEN THE WORLD'S TRIUMPHS by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE REGULAR STORY by BERTON BRALEY THE RING AND THE BOOK: BOOK 4. TERTIUM QUID by ROBERT BROWNING |