A brotherhood of bleached, air-scourged peaks In desolation watch the Illyrian sea. Them twice the lidless day brings ecstasy; Their leperous fronts but twice a splendor freaks. Once, when the anguish-heedful dawn unspeaks Their woe with rich, deep-blushed divinity; Again, when 'neath eve's balm they tower free Like Tyrian tents of purple-amorous sheiks. As they with light, so man with vision twice Scorns pain. First, when the bowl of life in bliss Youth holds, sees all -- grape, dregs, and sleepy spice -- Then stoops his head to drink as tho' to kiss. And last, when to the verge of death he strives, Pauses to gaze adown, and, smiling, dives. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PLANTATION CHILD'S LULLABY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR ODE TO FORTUNE by FITZ-GREENE HALLECK THE PRESENT CRISIS by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE DESERTED HOUSE by ALFRED TENNYSON THE MITHERLESS BAIRN by WILLIAM THOM A MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY by HENRY VAN DYKE THE SOLITARY REAPER by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH ON THE PASSING OF THE LAST FIRE HORSE FROM MANHATTAN ISLAND by KENNETH SLADE ALLING |