THE GREATWonderfor the Strong! who, forehead-kissed By superhuman lips,Following the lights of new horizonsFrom height of sovereignty,The smile, the flash, the song of geniusHad, and its folly;Knew all its flights and all its tearsAnd all its harmonies;And from their peak launched to the listening worldTheir sacred words;And died ’mid dreams and symphoniesBathed in bright sunlight.✴✴✴✴✴Love for the Rebels! Heart-bitten, they, By sùpreme anguish;Linked in Love’s leashWith those who weep, with those who tremble,With those, outcast, by Christ redeemed,By brethren betrayed.By sea, by land, to thronging crowdsNew laws have they proclaimed;Have raised the hymn of coming ages,Sublimely frenziedFor the ideal; and,—irons, rope or axe—Smiled at their torments.✴✴✴✴✴But for the Great of Gloomy Places,Tears, heart-wrung. Such as areA-hungered, trodden down; and—venerable—Nor truce nor pardon knewFrom hostile, impious nature,Yet hated not.Who saw the corn-ear spring for others,Yet thievèd not.Whose drink was gall and tears;who, traitorouslyLashed in the face by blindfold Tyranny,Yet murmured not.Who walked ’mid frosts and tempestsDarkling and quite forgot;No sun, no bread, no clothing,Yet trusted God.Who had a heap of straw to sleep onLoathsome and horrible;A lazar-house to die in,Yet loving died.
THE GREATWonderfor the Strong! who, forehead-kissed By superhuman lips,Following the lights of new horizonsFrom height of sovereignty,The smile, the flash, the song of geniusHad, and its folly;Knew all its flights and all its tearsAnd all its harmonies;And from their peak launched to the listening worldTheir sacred words;And died ’mid dreams and symphoniesBathed in bright sunlight.✴✴✴✴✴Love for the Rebels! Heart-bitten, they, By sùpreme anguish;Linked in Love’s leashWith those who weep, with those who tremble,With those, outcast, by Christ redeemed,By brethren betrayed.By sea, by land, to thronging crowdsNew laws have they proclaimed;Have raised the hymn of coming ages,Sublimely frenziedFor the ideal; and,—irons, rope or axe—Smiled at their torments.✴✴✴✴✴But for the Great of Gloomy Places,Tears, heart-wrung. Such as areA-hungered, trodden down; and—venerable—Nor truce nor pardon knewFrom hostile, impious nature,Yet hated not.Who saw the corn-ear spring for others,Yet thievèd not.Whose drink was gall and tears;who, traitorouslyLashed in the face by blindfold Tyranny,Yet murmured not.Who walked ’mid frosts and tempestsDarkling and quite forgot;No sun, no bread, no clothing,Yet trusted God.Who had a heap of straw to sleep onLoathsome and horrible;A lazar-house to die in,Yet loving died.
Wonderfor the Strong! who, forehead-kissed By superhuman lips,
Following the lights of new horizonsFrom height of sovereignty,
The smile, the flash, the song of geniusHad, and its folly;
Knew all its flights and all its tearsAnd all its harmonies;
And from their peak launched to the listening worldTheir sacred words;
And died ’mid dreams and symphoniesBathed in bright sunlight.
✴✴✴✴✴
Love for the Rebels! Heart-bitten, they, By sùpreme anguish;
Linked in Love’s leashWith those who weep, with those who tremble,
With those, outcast, by Christ redeemed,By brethren betrayed.
By sea, by land, to thronging crowdsNew laws have they proclaimed;
Have raised the hymn of coming ages,Sublimely frenzied
For the ideal; and,—irons, rope or axe—Smiled at their torments.
✴✴✴✴✴
But for the Great of Gloomy Places,Tears, heart-wrung. Such as are
A-hungered, trodden down; and—venerable—Nor truce nor pardon knew
From hostile, impious nature,Yet hated not.
Who saw the corn-ear spring for others,Yet thievèd not.
Whose drink was gall and tears;who, traitorously
Lashed in the face by blindfold Tyranny,Yet murmured not.
Who walked ’mid frosts and tempestsDarkling and quite forgot;
No sun, no bread, no clothing,Yet trusted God.
Who had a heap of straw to sleep onLoathsome and horrible;
A lazar-house to die in,Yet loving died.