"To nature true, complete!" so he begins. Who complete Nature to his canvas _wins?_ Her tiniest fragment's endless, no constraint Can know: he paints just what his _fancy_ pins: What does his fancy pin? What he _can_ paint!
Glue, only glue to me dispense, The wood I'll find myself, don't fear! To give four senseless verses sense-- That's an achievement I revere!
If to choose my niche precise Freedom I could win from fate, I'd be in midst of Paradise-- Or, sooner still--before the gate!
Wide blow your nostrils, and across The land your nose holds haughty sway: So you, unhorned rhinoceros, Proud mannikin, fall forward aye! The one trait with the other goes: A straight pride and a crooked nose.
The pen is scratching: hang the pen! To scratching I'm condemned to sink! I grasp the inkstand fiercely then And write in floods of flowing ink. How broad, how full the stream's career! What luck my labours doth requite! 'Tis true, the writing's none too clear-- What then? Who reads the stuff I write?
This man's climbing up--let us praise him-- But that other we love From aloft doth eternally move, So above even praise let us raise him, He _comes_ from above!
Your life is half-way o'er; The clock-hand moves; your soul is thrilled with fear, It roamed to distant shore And sought and found not, yet you--linger here!
Your life is half-way o'er; That hour by hour was pain and error sheer: _Why stay?_ What seek you more? "That's what I'm seeking--reasons why I'm here!"
Yes, I know where I'm related, Like the flame, unquenched, unsated, I consume myself and glow: All's turned to light I lay my hand on, All to coal that I abandon, Yes, I am a flame, I know!
Foredoomed to spaces vast and far, What matters darkness to the star?
Roll calmly on, let time go by, Let sorrows pass thee--nations die!
Compassion would but dim the light That distant worlds will gladly sight.
[2] A and O, suggestive of Ah! and Oh! refer of course to Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.--TR.