A burning city's raging ire Assailed with storms of biting fire A tower fair in sculptured stone, That braved the flames, and stood alone. Blackened it stood, and scarred and drear, Through many a long revolving year, Until once more the hearts of men Impelled them there to build again; When, lo! a curious thing was found: The tower courses near the ground, Fused by the fire, had kept their form Through cracking frost and beating storm, While all the tower's lofty spire, Untouched by that fierce-friendly fire, Had lost its graces day by day, And crumbled utterly away. Ah, thus, my timorous soul, receive The woes that sadden and bereave! They sear the life, but haply still Confirm the faith, inure the will, And fuse the spirit, soft and slight, To diamond and chrysolite! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 4 by THOMAS CAMPION THE LION'S RIDE by FERDINAND FREILIGRATH PRINCE ALDFRITH'S ITINERARY THROUGH IRELAND by ALDFRITH EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 38. NO PERJURY IN LOVE by PHILIP AYRES THE DROWNED HIDALGO DREAMS by WILLIAM ROSE BENET THE DISTURBED WASP; TO WILLIAM BEEBE by ANNE MILLAY BREMER WRITTEN TO GAALDINE PRISON CAVES TO A.G.A. by EMILY JANE BRONTE |