THE Roman world is gay and bright On Garden Hill to-day, -- A world of music, beauty, light, Roses, and fountain spray. A dreamy look of luxury fills The eyes of young and fair; Mascagni's "Intermezzo" thrills Upon the perfumed air. Within the charmed range of sound The crowd move slowly by; In golden livery grouped around, Proud equipages vie. But in th' Eternal City who Can rest contented long With things that savor of the new? The charm of age is strong. An ancient spell from out the past Our spirits seems to hold In sympathy with what could last, In love for what is old. Away from all this modern show We turn with eager eyes To where, the terraced hill below, Our Rome, the classic, lies; To ground that heathen emperors And holy men have trod; To temples reared for Jupiter, And churches built to God. We try to find the Pantheon Amidst the gilded domes; The inward vision dwells upon The distant Catacombs. We see the Colosseum stand Still strong against the flood Of stormy centuries, alter grand, Hallowed by martyrs' blood. O sacred ruin, planned to see Such blood for pleasure spent, What heroes dared to make of thee A Christian monument! Have we a faith as strong and sure 'Gainst sword and beast and flame? Could we their sufferings endure, And glory in His name? Have we their strength to stand our ground (I'll question better still) Amidst the life that throngs around Here on the Pincian Hill? For Faith, of old by tortures tried, Needs now another test: The truth for which our fathers died We prove by living best. Be it an open fight with vice, Or self to overcome, Each day may have its sacrifice, Each life its martyrdom. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LOON ON FORRESTER'S POND by HAYDEN CARRUTH MOUNTAIN FARM by MALCOLM COWLEY A DISCRETE LOVE POEM by JAMES GALVIN WHAT I'VE BELIEVED IN by JAMES GALVIN THE MAN TO BE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON EIGHTEEN-DOLLAR TAXI TRIP TO TIZAPAN AND BACK TO CHAPALA by CLARENCE MAJOR |