I thank you, brethren in Sincerity— One who, within the temperate climes of Art, From the charmed circle humbly stands apart, Scornfully also, with a listless eye Watching old marionettes' vitality; For you have shown, with youth's brave confidence, The honesty of true speech and the sense Uniting life with 'nature,' earth with sky. In faithful hearts Art strikes its roots far down, And bears both flower and fruit with seeded core; When truth dies out, the fruit appears no more. But the flower hides a worm within its crown. God-speed you onward! Once again our way Shall be made odorous with fresh flowers of May. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A LETTER TO HER HUSBAND, ABSENT UPON PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT by ANNE BRADSTREET HYMN OF THE EARTH by WILLIAM ELLERY CHANNING (1817-1901) THE RAINY DAY by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE KNIGHTS: THE POET AND HIS RIVALS by ARISTOPHANES |