Classic Poem

" IN windy war the ocean waves are raised
And foam-lipped breakers kiss the very clouds;
Then peace comes o'er the sea, which roars no more,
And stills its bounding billows, but for tides
Which ebb and flow, by influence of the moon
Compelled to motion; naught can hinder them.
If more profoundly one investigate
The miracles that heavenly bodies cause
Upon the earth, he'll find in them so much
That's marvelous that never he'll succeed
To put it all in writing in a book.
So I acquit the heavens of revolt
Against me, for by their beneficence
They do so much of good that I perceive
That duly all their duty they fulfill.
" Nor do I of the elements complain;
For my commandments fully they obey,
Blending and resolving, each in turn.
All is corruptible beneath the moon;
Naught is so nourished that it cannot rot.
By their own composition and the intent
Of nature all must follow this fixed law
Which never fails: all whence it comes returns.
So general this rule, it cannot fail
To function in respect to elements.
" Nor do I of the vegetable world
Complain. The plants are never slow to heed
My will, but are attentive to my laws.
Long as they live they spread their roots and leaves —
Expand in trunk and branches, flower and fruit.
Each year each one produces what it can,
As herb or bush or tree, until it dies.
" Nor do I of the fish and fowl complain.
They are most fair to see, and well they know
And follow all my rules. Good scholars they!
All tug the traces fastened to my yoke.
They breed according to their several wonts,
And thus do honor to their lineage.
Great comfort 'tis to see how each of them
Strives to prevent his race from dying out.
" Nor do I of the animals complain,
Who bow their heads continually to earth
And never warfare wage against my rule.
All do my service as their fathers did.
Each male goes with his female, and they mate
Fairly and pleasingly, and in their joy
Their young engender, coupling just as oft
As may seem good to them. No bargaining
Delays their union when they're in accord.
With courtesy that is most debonair
It pleases each to do the other's will;
And all for what they do feel amply paid
By blessings that upon them I bestow
So do my fairest insects: flies and ants
And butterflies. Even the worms that breed
In rottenness cease not to keep my laws.
Adders and snakes are studious to do my work. "