The earth with thunder torn, with fire blasted, With waters drowned, with windy palsy shaken, Cannot for this with heaven be distasted, Since thunder, rain, and winds from earth are taken; Man torn with love, with inward furies blasted, Drowned with despair, with fleshly lustings shaken, Cannot for this with heaven be distasted; Love, fury, lustings out of man are taken. Then, man, endure thyself, those clouds will vanish; Life is a top which whipping sorrow driveth; Wisdom must bear what our flesh cannot banish. The humble lead, the stubborn bootless striveth. Or, man, forsake thyself, to heaven turn thee, Her flames enlighten nature, never burn thee. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 5. THE STEVEDORES by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER TO-NIGHT by LOUISE CHANDLER MOULTON AVE ATQUE VALE; IN MEMORY OF CHARLES BAUDELAIRE by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE THE BATTLE AUTUMN OF 1862 by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 79. AL-TAWWAB by EDWIN ARNOLD |