STRONG Tower of State, that unto rich and poor, In war and in scarce lovelier peace, hast been Shelter and home: thou stood'st impregnable, When willing toil and never-drowsing watch Could guard thee from all access of decay. But if dread Sloth, the mother of Doom, steal in, And reign where Labour served, then is the hour Hitherward posting, when men's eyes shall see The thistle with the nettle strive for place Within thy doorway, and men's ears shall hear The owl hoot from a remnant of thy walls. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CAVALIER TUNES: BOOT AND SADDLE by ROBERT BROWNING THE ROSE TREE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS IMITATIONS OF SHAKESPEARE: PROGNE'S DREAM by JOHN ARMSTRONG HERMOTIMUS by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN ON SEEING AN OFFICER'S WIDOW DISTRACTED - ARREARS OF PENSION by MARY BARBER HOW THE WINNING FOUR WEST HOME by WILLIAM ROSE BENET THE IDLERS by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 53. FAREWELL TO JULIET (15) by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |