I. NOT from without us, only from within, Comes or can ever come upon us light Whereby the soul keeps ever truth in sight. No truth, no strength, no comfort man may win, No grace for guidance, no release from sin, Save of his own soul's giving. Deep and bright As fire enkindled in the core of night Burns in the soul where once its fire has been The light that leads and quickens thought, inspired To doubt and trust and conquer. So he said Whom Sidney, flower of England, lordliest head Of all we love, loved: but the fates required A sacrifice to hate and hell, ere fame Should set with his in heaven Giordano's name. II. Cover thine eyes and weep, O child of hell, Grey spouse of Satan, Church of name abhorred. Weep, withered harlot, with thy weeping lord, Now none will buy the heaven thou hast to sell At price of prostituted souls, and swell Thy loveless list of lovers. Fire and sword No more are thine: the steel, the wheel, the cord, The flames that rose round living limbs, and fell In lifeless ash and ember, now no more Approve thee godlike. Rome, redeemed at last From all the red pollution of thy past, Acclaims the grave bright face that smiled of yore Even on the fire that caught it round and clomb To cast its ashes on the face of Rome. June 9,1889. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JOHN BROWN by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON A BOY'S SUMMER SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE SONG OF SHERMAN'S ARMY by CHARLES GRAHAM HALPINE THE BELLS OF YOUTH by WILLIAM SHARP WHITE FOR MOURNING by AL-FATA AL-KAFIF TORRISMOND; AN UNFINISHED DRAMA by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES PSALM 73: INTRODUCTORY LINES by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE WE WALKED AMONG THE WHISPERING PINES by JOHN HENRY BONER THE ELDER WOMAN'S SONG: 3, FR. KING LEAR'S WIFE by GORDON BOTTOMLEY |