A meteoric soul of heavenly birth, A swift out-runner of all mortal things, Beating the ether with his shining wings, Counted all other orbs of little worth, If, in his frenzy, he might reach the Earth And hear, at closer range, the song it sings And breathe the fragrance that around it clings; Or, but to lay hot fingers on its girth. In dazzling brilliancy the panting soul Saw, with proud eyes, his victory achieved. With outstretched wings he darted to his goal. But, as he struck the Earth, his joy received A shock that changed him to a blackened coal: A dull, dead thing by wanton Earth deceived. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SMALLISH SON by HAYDEN CARRUTH IT JUST SO HAPPENS by JAMES GALVIN FINALITY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON IRELAND; WRITTEN FOR THE ART AUTOGRAPH DURING IRISH FAMINE by SIDNEY LANIER TO AN EARLY DAFFODIL; SONNET by AMY LOWELL FAIR HARVARD by GEORGE SANTAYANA |