The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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IN MEMORY OF PATRICK BRANWELL BRONTË, GENIUS
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 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
32
IN MEMORY OF PATRICK BRANWELL BRONTË, GENIUS
I pay a sorrowful tribute to the sun
Of genius overcast, and downward hurled,—
Its flag no sooner hoisted than 'twas furled,
Its flame no sooner kindled than 'twas done,
Its race no sooner started than 'twas run,
And love no sooner tasted than 'twas sour,
And fruit of beauty faded with the flower,
Great things attempted, yet how little won.
Of genius overcast, and downward hurled,—
Its flag no sooner hoisted than 'twas furled,
Its flame no sooner kindled than 'twas done,
Its race no sooner started than 'twas run,
And love no sooner tasted than 'twas sour,
And fruit of beauty faded with the flower,
Great things attempted, yet how little won.
A poor pale finger-post he seems to stand,
Saying to men that follow in his wake,
“In front of me there lies a lonely land.
One of two courses, brothers, you must take:
Either for emptiness yourself forsake,
Or hold your whole self in tenacious hand.”
Saying to men that follow in his wake,
“In front of me there lies a lonely land.
One of two courses, brothers, you must take:
Either for emptiness yourself forsake,
Or hold your whole self in tenacious hand.”
1870.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |