THE pibroch's note, discountenanced or mute; The Roman kilt, degraded to a toy Of quaint apparel for a half-spoilt boy; The target mouldering like ungathered fruit; The smoking steam-boat eager in pursuit, As eagerly pursued; the umbrella spread To weather-fend the Celtic herdsman's head -- All speak of manners withering to the root, And of old honours, too, and passions high: Then may we ask, though pleased that thought should range Among the conquests of civility, Survives imagination -- to the change Superior? Help to virtue does she give? If not, O Mortals, better cease to live! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A MONA LISA by ANGELINA WELD GRIMKE NEW YEAR'S EVE by THOMAS HARDY ARTHUR MERVYN; A TALE OF SOCIAL GRIEVANCES: THE PASSING OF ARTHUR by SAMUEL CARTER THE ROSCIAD by CHARLES CHURCHILL TO FORTUNE: ON BUYING A TICKET IN THE IRISH LOTTERY by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |