HOPES what are they? -- Beads of morning Strung on slender blades of grass; Or a spider's web adorning In a strait and treacherous pass. What are fears but voices airy? Whispering harm where harm is not; And deluding the unwary Till the fatal bolt is shot! What is glory? -- in the socket See how dying tapers fare! What is pride? -- a whizzing rocket That would emulate a star. What is friendship? -- do not trust her, Nor the vows which she has made; Diamonds dart their brightest lustre From a palsy-shaken head. What is truth? -- a staff rejected; Duty? -- an unwelcome clog; Joy? -- a moon by fits reflected In a swamp or watery bog; Bright, as if through ether steering, To the Traveller's eye it shone: He hath hailed it re-appearing -- And as quickly it is gone; Such is Joy -- as quickly hidden, Or mis-shapen to the sight, And by sullen weeds forbidden To resume its native light. What is youth? -- a dancing billow, (Winds behind, and rocks before!) Age? -- a drooping, tottering willow On a flat and lazy shore. What is peace? -- when pain is over, And love ceases to rebel, Let the last faint sigh discover That precedes the passing knell! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AGAINST THEM WHO LAY UNCHASTITY TO THE SEX OF WOMAN by WILLIAM HABINGTON HABEAS CORPUS by HELEN MARIA HUNT FISKE JACKSON COR CORDIUM by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE LITTLE BELL by THOMAS WESTWOOD SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 36. STRONG, LIKE THE SEA by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) AMERICA A PROPHECY by WILLIAM BLAKE |