HOW fair upon the admiring sight, In Learning's sacred fane, With cheek of bloom, and robe of white, Glide on yon graceful train. Blest creatures! to whose gentle eye Earth's gilded gifts are new, Ye know not that distrustful sigh Which deems its vows untrue. There is a bubble on your cup By buoyant fancy nurs'd, How high its sparkling foam leaps up! Ye do not think 'twill burst: And be it far from me to fling On budding joys a blight, Or darkly spread a raven's wing To shade a path so bright. There twines a wreath around your brow, Blent with the sunny braid; Love lends its flowers a radiant glow -- Ye do not think 'twill fade: And yet 'twere safer there to bind That plant of changeless dye, Whose root is in the lowly mind, Whose blossom in the sky. But who o'er beauty's form can hang, Nor think how future years May bring stern sorrow's speechless pang Or, disappointment's tears, Unceasing toil, unpitied care, Cold treachery's serpent moan -- Ills that the tender heart must bear, Unanswering and alone. Yet, as the frail and fragrant flower, Crushed by the sweeping blast, Doth even in death an essence pour. The sweetest, and the last, So woman's deep, enduring love, Which nothing can appal, Her steadfast faith, that looks above For rest, can conquer all. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PARTING LOVERS by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING ECHO by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE UPON THE DEATH OF THE LORD HASTINGS by JOHN DRYDEN THE QUESTION by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON TO THE GARDEN THE WORLD by WALT WHITMAN A COWBOY TOAST by JAMES BARTON ADAMS A BLESSING FOR THE BLESSED by LAWRENCE ALMA-TADEMA SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 33. RED DAWN by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |