Classic Poem

Lovers of beauty, dreamers dead,
Broken and bleeding lovers of men, —
Honor and glory and joy are fled;
Who will arise to build them again?

Swept on the carmin'd tides of war,
Goaded and dazzled, credulous Youth
Barter'd the baldric of dreams he bore, —
Sicken'd and died in the death of Truth! ...

Tortured and trampled dreamers of dreams
Bludgeon'd and broken, bribed and betrayed! —
Have ye bequeathed us the courage that deems
Silence unworthy the price that ye paid?

Are we unworthy slaves of Fear?
Is Life but enamell'd gaunt Despair? ...
Yield us the faith that life is dear!
Kindle new passion to think and dare!

Envoi.

Far in the incense-breathing East
Brahma and Buddha feed the soul!
From their immortal banquet-feast
God! let new human thunders roll!