Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ASHRIDGE, by FREDERICK WILLIAM HENRY MYERS Poet's Biography First Line: On this great home if change must fall Last Line: Unheard-of morning, mystic day. Alternate Author Name(s): Myers, Frederic Subject(s): Home | ||||||||
ON this great home if change must fall, Let change itself come soft and fair; Leave these cloud-feathery skies, and all The abandonment of upland air; Leave ancient forest, ancient lawn, Historic ash-trees, beechen shade; Still let the slanted shafts of dawn Light the low fern from glade to glade. No more the Churchmen, sad and slow, Chaunt in dim dusk their crooning song; Nor captive queen thro' lattice low Views a wild realm of wrath and wrong: To these Inheritors belong A sure dominion, master art; For moat and wall they choose the strong Ascendant of the nobler heart. And if sometimes that heart should quail, Half doubtful of high task begun; Beholding hallowed landmarks fail, Dear hopes evanish one by one; Yet best shall lead who best have led; Those thro' our chaos surest steer Whose fathers' bygone deeds have bred Imperious Honour, flouting Fear. "By her own strength can Virtue live? Self-poised can Hope wide-winging soar?" List! for our deepening age shall give Some answer surer than of yore; Stand fast, high hearts, thro' woe and weal; Watch thro' the night, if watch ye may; Wait, till the rifted heavens reveal Unheard-of morning, mystic day. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EL FLORIDA ROOM by RICHARD BLANCO DESTINATIONS by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN TO THIS HOUSE by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE UPSTAIRS ROOM by WELDON KEES HOME IS SO SAD by PHILIP LARKIN DUTCH INTERIOR by DAVID LEHMAN ON A GRAVE AT GRINDELWALD by FREDERICK WILLIAM HENRY MYERS |
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