A FACE of youth mature; a mouth of tender, Sad, human sympathy, yet something stoic In clasp of lip: wide eyes of calmest splendor, And brow serenely ample and heroic: The features -- all -- lit with a soul ideal . . . O visionary boy! what were you seeing, What hearing, as you stood thus midst the real Ere yet one master-work of yours had being? Is it a foolish fancy that we humor -- Investing daringly with life and spirit This youthful portrait of you ere one rumor Of your great future spoke that men might hear it? -- Is it a fancy, or your first of glories, That you were listening, and the camera drew you Hearing the voices of your untold stories And all your lovely poems calling to you? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WAR IS KIND: 12 by STEPHEN CRANE AN OLD CASTLE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH CORSICA by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE CYNOTAPH by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM O WORLD, BE NOBLER! by LAURENCE BINYON A SPRAY OF HONEYSUCKLE by MARY EMILY NEELEY BRADLEY |