THE ARTISTS
They have been born to model and to mouldThe shapeless clay into expressive formEven as gods! to seize the fleeting shades,The subtle hues of things that pass or stayAnd make them live and glow intensely.They have been born to tell their wondrous dreamsIn rhythmic stanzas full of strength and grace,To plunge into the very depths of things,To seek the precious essence that is fitFor distillation to symphonic strain.Require them not to leave their sacred sphere,To mix with common vendors in the mart,To traffic their creations and to throwThe priceless pearls of genius to the swineFor but a bowl of vinegar and gall.O bring to them the little bread and milkWhich they must have to live, and if you canRejoice to give them honey. Be to themWhat ravens were unto a prophet once.Does not the beauty they create or dreamAtone for all our ugly deeds or thoughts,Even as the saints who pray for those that sinSustain the equilibrium that must beIn order that the world may not be doomed?Eternal malediction fall on thoseWho mock or crucify these chosen onesAnd let them be thrice blessed who help to clearLife’s rugged road of thorns for those who passAnd passing, leave this world more beautiful.
They have been born to model and to mouldThe shapeless clay into expressive formEven as gods! to seize the fleeting shades,The subtle hues of things that pass or stayAnd make them live and glow intensely.They have been born to tell their wondrous dreamsIn rhythmic stanzas full of strength and grace,To plunge into the very depths of things,To seek the precious essence that is fitFor distillation to symphonic strain.Require them not to leave their sacred sphere,To mix with common vendors in the mart,To traffic their creations and to throwThe priceless pearls of genius to the swineFor but a bowl of vinegar and gall.O bring to them the little bread and milkWhich they must have to live, and if you canRejoice to give them honey. Be to themWhat ravens were unto a prophet once.Does not the beauty they create or dreamAtone for all our ugly deeds or thoughts,Even as the saints who pray for those that sinSustain the equilibrium that must beIn order that the world may not be doomed?Eternal malediction fall on thoseWho mock or crucify these chosen onesAnd let them be thrice blessed who help to clearLife’s rugged road of thorns for those who passAnd passing, leave this world more beautiful.
They have been born to model and to mouldThe shapeless clay into expressive formEven as gods! to seize the fleeting shades,The subtle hues of things that pass or stayAnd make them live and glow intensely.
They have been born to model and to mould
The shapeless clay into expressive form
Even as gods! to seize the fleeting shades,
The subtle hues of things that pass or stay
And make them live and glow intensely.
They have been born to tell their wondrous dreamsIn rhythmic stanzas full of strength and grace,To plunge into the very depths of things,To seek the precious essence that is fitFor distillation to symphonic strain.
They have been born to tell their wondrous dreams
In rhythmic stanzas full of strength and grace,
To plunge into the very depths of things,
To seek the precious essence that is fit
For distillation to symphonic strain.
Require them not to leave their sacred sphere,To mix with common vendors in the mart,To traffic their creations and to throwThe priceless pearls of genius to the swineFor but a bowl of vinegar and gall.
Require them not to leave their sacred sphere,
To mix with common vendors in the mart,
To traffic their creations and to throw
The priceless pearls of genius to the swine
For but a bowl of vinegar and gall.
O bring to them the little bread and milkWhich they must have to live, and if you canRejoice to give them honey. Be to themWhat ravens were unto a prophet once.
O bring to them the little bread and milk
Which they must have to live, and if you can
Rejoice to give them honey. Be to them
What ravens were unto a prophet once.
Does not the beauty they create or dreamAtone for all our ugly deeds or thoughts,Even as the saints who pray for those that sinSustain the equilibrium that must beIn order that the world may not be doomed?
Does not the beauty they create or dream
Atone for all our ugly deeds or thoughts,
Even as the saints who pray for those that sin
Sustain the equilibrium that must be
In order that the world may not be doomed?
Eternal malediction fall on thoseWho mock or crucify these chosen onesAnd let them be thrice blessed who help to clearLife’s rugged road of thorns for those who passAnd passing, leave this world more beautiful.
Eternal malediction fall on those
Who mock or crucify these chosen ones
And let them be thrice blessed who help to clear
Life’s rugged road of thorns for those who pass
And passing, leave this world more beautiful.