O, how I faint when I of you do write, Knowing a better spirit doth use your name, And in the praise thereof spends all his might, To make me tongue-tied, speaking of your fame! But since your worth, wide as the ocean is, The humble as the proudest sail doth bear, My saucy bark inferior far to his On your broad main doth wilfully appear. Your shallowest help will hold me up afloat, Whilst he upon your soundless deep doth ride; Or being wreck'd, I am a worthless boat, He of tall building and of goodly pride: Then if he thrive and I be cast away, The worst was this; my love was my decay. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HYMN OF THE CITY by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE VOICE by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON THE PAST IS THE PRESENT by MARIANNE MOORE THE WEAVER'S APPRENTICE by AL-RUSAFI HOMER by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN LINES TO A TEAPOT by JOANNA BAILLIE PSALM 19 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |