WILL you have me gold or steel, Love, whose crucible is here? Will you have me brave, or feel Fate's anguish, dear? Am I virtuous -- who knows? If I glitter in the fire Harder, whiter, as it glows At your desire? Or yet worthier if I quail As the dark dross melts again If I sometimes nearly fail For very pain? While the steel is growing white It grows harder, whiteness near: While the gold is growing bright It softens, dear. Say then, will you have forth cast, When the tale of fire is told, From your crucible at last Fine steel, or gold? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OUR CAMP; IN THE AUTUMN WOODS by ROBERT FROST AFTERGLOW by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON IRELAND; WRITTEN FOR THE ART AUTOGRAPH DURING IRISH FAMINE by SIDNEY LANIER HOMAGE TO SEXTUS PROPERTIUS: 2 by EZRA POUND ELEGY: THE GHOST WHOSE LIPS WERE WARM; FOR GEOFFREY GORER by EDITH SITWELL |