This the true sign of ruin to a race—
It undertakes no march, and day by day
Drowses in camp, or, with the laggard’s pace,
Walks sentry o’er possessions that decay;
Destined, with sensible waste, to fleet away;—
For the first secret of continued power
Is the continued conquest;—all our sway
Hath surety in the uses of the hour;...
-
-
We are the Ancient People;
Our father is the Sun;
Our mother, the Earth, where the mountains tower
And the rivers seaward run;
The stars are the children of the sky,
The red men of the plain;
And ages over us both had rolled
Before you crossed the main;—
For we are the Ancient People,
Born with the wind and rain... -
"Let there be light."
Light to the darkened mind
Bear, like the sun, the world's wide circle round,
Bright messengers that speak without a sound!
Sight on the spirit blind
Shall fall whene'er ye pass; your living ray
...Do People moulder equally,
They bury, in the Grave?
I do believe a Species
As positively live
As I, who testify it
Deny that I — am dead —
And fill my Lungs, for Witness —
From Tanks — above my Head —
I say to you, said Jesus —
That there be standing here...*
Some people admire the work of a Fool
For its sure to keep your judgment cool
It does not reproach you with want of wit
It is not like a lawyer serving a writThe feet of people walking home -
With gayer sandals go -
The Crocus, till she rises
The Vassal of the snow -
The lips at Hallelujah
Long years of practise bore -
Till bye and bye these Bargemen
Walked singing, on the shore.
Pearls are the Diver's farthings -
...Those fair — fictitious People —
The Women — plucked away
From our familiar Lifetime —
The Men of Ivory —
Those Boys and Girls, in Canvas —
Who stay upon the Wall
In Everlasting Keepsake —
Can Anybody tell?
We trust — in places perfecter —
Inheriting...