Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A TOWER PARABLE, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS Poet's Biography First Line: A burning city's raging ire Last Line: To diamond and chrysolite! Subject(s): Fire | ||||||||
A burning city's raging ire Assailed with storms of biting fire A tower fair in sculptured stone, That braved the flames, and stood alone. Blackened it stood, and scarred and drear, Through many a long revolving year, Until once more the hearts of men Impelled them there to build again; When, lo! a curious thing was found: The tower courses near the ground, Fused by the fire, had kept their form Through cracking frost and beating storm, While all the tower's lofty spire, Untouched by that fierce-friendly fire, Had lost its graces day by day, And crumbled utterly away. Ah, thus, my timorous soul, receive The woes that sadden and bereave! They sear the life, but haply still Confirm the faith, inure the will, And fuse the spirit, soft and slight, To diamond and chrysolite! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WRITTEN TO A YOUNG LADY by MAURICE BARING OUR DRIFTWOOD FIRE by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE NIGHT FIRE by CLAUDE MCKAY WATER, WINTER, FIRE by MARVIN BELL THE LITTLE FIRE IN THE WOODS by HAYDEN CARRUTH SAMSON PREDICTS FROM GAZA THE PHILADELPHIA FIRE by LUCILLE CLIFTON ALADDIN LAMP by MADELINE DEFREES A BATTLE SONG (WRITTEN IN THE WORLD WAR) by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS |
|