'Under which king, Bezonian? Speak, or die.' -- 2 HENRY IV. Act v., Scene 3. 'Under which king?' you ask, my friend. 'The Hermit of the Suffolk shore? -- The Tent-maker of Naishapur? -- OMAR, FITZGERALD -- which?' Perpend. The great CORNEILLE, when pressed of yore, To judge two sonnets, answered thus: -- 'One, in its way, is marvellous; And yet -- I like the other more.' This is my case betwixt your twain. But if you further question why I sit in this brave company, I will -- with your good leave -- explain. Life is a toilsome thing at best: We all too-heavy burdens bear, And groaning 'neath our load of care, Run to and fro in search of rest. We find it where this board is set: Kind looks across the napery gleam; The Past, the Future, grow a dream; And -- for the moment -- we forget. OMAR, FITZGERALD -- these are all But phantasies. We snuff the air; The green spot in the desert bare; The Opiate of the Interval! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHITE NOCTURNE by CONRAD AIKEN THE WOMEN WITH FABLED HAIR by MADELINE DEFREES ON TALK OF PEACE AT THIS TIME by ROBERT FROST SPRING BLIZZARD by JAMES GALVIN I'VE NOTHING TO OFFER by DAVID IGNATOW SEPULCHRE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: DIPPOLD THE OPTICIAN by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |