Not solely that the Future she destroys, And the fair life which in the distance lies For all men, beckoning out from dim rich skies: Nor that the passing hour's supporting joys Have lost the keen-edged flavour, which begat Distinction in old times, and still should breed Sweet Memory, and Hope, -- earth's modest seed, And heaven's high-prompting: not that the world is flat Since that soft-luring creature I embraced Among the children of Illusion went: Methinks with all this loss I were content, If the mad Past, on which my foot is based, Were firm, or might be blotted: but the whole Of life is mixed: the mocking Past will stay: And if I drink oblivion of a day, So shorten I the stature of my soul. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OUR LORD AND OUR LADY by HILAIRE BELLOC THE SEVEN ARTS by ROBERT FROST THE PRODIGAL SON by DAVID IGNATOW NOT OUR GOOD LUCK by ROBINSON JEFFERS AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS WAR by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON CLAY BISON IN A CAVE by CLARENCE MAJOR BONNYBELL: THE GRAY SPHEX by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |