From The Conflict Of Convictions
The Ancient of Days forever is young, Forever the scheme of Nature thrives;
I know a wind in purpose strong-- It spins _against_ the way it drives.
What if the gulfs their slimed foundations bare?
So deep must the stones be
Whereon the throes of ages
The final empire and the happier world. Power unanointed may come--Dominion (unsought by the free) And the Iron Dome,
Stronger for stress and strain,
Fling her huge shadow athwart the main;
But the Founders' dream shall flee.
Age after age has been,(From man's changeless heart their way they win);
And death be busy with all who strive--Death, with silent negative.
Yea and Nay--_
Each hath his say;_
But God He keeps the middle way._
None was by_
When He spread the sky;_
Wisdom is vain, and prophecy._
Herman Melville
Other author posts
The Apparition A Retrospect
Convulsions came; and, where the field Long slept in pastoral green, A goblin-mountain was upheaved(Sure the scared sense was all deceived), Marl-glen and slag-ravine The unreserve of Ill was there, The clinkers in her last retreat;<br /...
The Stone Fleet
I have a feeling for those ships, Each worn and ancient one, With great bluff bows, and broad in the beam: Ay, it was unkindly done
In The Prison Pen
Listless he eyes the palisades And sentries in the glare;'Tis barren as a pelican-beach But his world is ended there Nothing to do; and vacant hands Bring on the idiot-pain; He tries to think--to recollect, But the blur is on his brain<b...
The March Into Viriginia
Did all the lets and bars appear To every just or larger end, Whence should come the trust and cheer Youth must its ignorant impulse lend —Age finds place in the rear All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys,