Classic Poem

Why do I see the power of Genius droop
As if on earth they'd lost their only prop?
Why do I hear the philanthrophist sigh,
And meet each neighbour with a tearful eye;
They shake their heads and pensive beat their breast
And say alass the friend of mans at rest.—
Franklin no more—his vast unbounded mind
Set free to rove with knowledge unconfin'd
From globe to globe their magnitudes to scan
Observe their distance motion and their plan
View systems new in beauteous order rise
And fixed stars that flame in other Skies
Thro boundless depths of ether to survey
The electric fluid find it self a way
In forked lightnings wild excentric play
Ah what a scene for philosophic lore—
But think of this and ye will weep no more—
How rapid is the souls immortal growth—
How great its progress in the search of truth—
Compar'd to this all former efforts faint—
And the deep sage perfected in the saint.—