Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PENN CALVIN, by BAYARD TAYLOR Poet's Biography First Line: Search high and low, search up and down Last Line: And glad the world is fair! Alternate Author Name(s): Taylor, James Bayard Subject(s): Beauty; Calvinists; Life | ||||||||
I. SEARCH high and low, search up and down, By light of stars or sun, And of all the good folks of our town There's like Penn Calvin none. He lightly laughs when all condemn, He smiles when others pray; And what is sorest truth to them To him is idle play. II. "Penn Calvin, lift, as duty bids, The load we all must bear!" He only lifts his languid lids, And says: "The morn is fair!" "Learn while you may! for Life is stern And Art, alas! is long." He hums and answers: "Yes, I learn The cadence of a song." III. "The world is dark with human woe; Man eats of bitter food." "The world," he says, "is all aglow With beauty, bliss, and good!' "To crush the senses you must strive, The beast of flesh destroy!" "God gave this body, all alive, And every sense is joy!" IV. "Nay, these be heathen words we hear; The faith they teach is flown, -- A mist that clings to temples drear And altars overthrown." "I reck not how nor whence it came," He answers; "I possess: If heathens felt and owned the same, How bright was heathenesse!" V. "Though you be stubborn to believe, Yet learn to grasp and hold: There's power and honor to achieve, And royal rule of gold!" Penn Calvin plucked an open rose And carolled to the sky: "Shine, sun of Day, until its close, -- They live, and so do I!" VI. His eyes are clear as they were kissed By some unrisen dawn; Our grave and stern philanthropist Looks sad, and passes on, Our pastor scowls, the pious flock Avert their heads, and flee; For pestilence or earthquake shock Less dreadful seems than he. VII. But all the children round him cling, Depraved as they were born; And vicious men his praises sing, Whom he forgets to scorn. Penn Calvin's strange indifference gives Our folks a grievous care: He's simply glad because he lives, And glad the world is fair! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PRIVILEGE OF BEING by ROBERT HASS SEAWATER STIFFENS CLOTH by JANE HIRSHFIELD SAYING YES TO LIVING by DAVID IGNATOW THE WORLD IS SO DIFFICULT TO GIVE UP by DAVID IGNATOW BEDOUIN [LOVE] SONG by BAYARD TAYLOR NATIONAL ODE; INDEPENDENCE SQUARE, PHILADELPHIA by BAYARD TAYLOR |
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