Upon the mountain-heights thou goest, As swift as some fierce wind-swept flame; Thy doom thou scornest while thou knowest Men mock thy name. But thou -- thou hast the mountain-splendour, The lonely streams, blue lakes serene, Wouldst thou these virgin haunts surrender For man's demesne? Wouldst thou, for peaks where eagles gather, Where moon-white skies slow flush with dawn, Where, drenched with dew thy chieftain-father Is far withdrawn -- Wouldst thou all these exchange, give over Thy wild free joys and all delights, Thy proud and passionate mountain-lover, Thy starry nights, For that drear life in huddled places Where men like ants move to and fro Tired men, with ever on their faces The shadow of woe? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN APPEAL TO CATS IN THE BUSINESS OF LOVE; SONG by THOMAS FLATMAN THE ARTILLERYMAN'S VISION by WALT WHITMAN ANTIQUE JEWELER by FREDERICK HENRY HERBERT ADLER HYMN FOR ALL SAINTS DAY IN THE MORNING by HENRY ALFORD |