Where the luminous deep skies Kindle passion's sullen fire, Heaven is to feed desire On a Houri's lips and eyes. But where duty's iron rod Terrifies a sterile land, 'Tis to tremble, harp in hand, Singing to a tyrant God. And where in a cloistered space Pines love's pale transplanted flower, 'Tis to bloom one blessed hour In the sunlight of love's face. But the days of splendid lust Are the fleeting summer days; Grievous grows Jehovah's praise; And the root of love is dust. First we hope and then we know: Old and sad and ever strange, In unprofitable change Thus the tide must ebb and flow. Folly was not meant to cease, Nor the hope calm wisdom gave When upon a mortal's grave She wrote only: Rest in peace. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...POETICAL ABSTRACTS: 2. METAPHYSICAL by HAYDEN CARRUTH IT JUST SO HAPPENS by JAMES GALVIN SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: MAGRADY GRAHAM by EDGAR LEE MASTERS TO A SCREEN-MAKER by MARIANNE MOORE HOMAGE TO SEXTUS PROPERTIUS: 12 by EZRA POUND |