 | The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes |  |
THE LIVING DYNAMO
EDWARD EVERETT HALE
APRIL 18, 1892
Night after night the incandescent arc
Has fought its dazzling battle with the dark,
Our doubtful paths with purest ray illumed,
Untired, undimmed, unswerving, unconsumed.
Has fought its dazzling battle with the dark,
Our doubtful paths with purest ray illumed,
Untired, undimmed, unswerving, unconsumed.
A slender wire the living light conveys
That startles midnight with its noonday blaze.
Through that same channel streams the giant force
That whirls the wheels along their clanking course
When, like a mail-clad monster o'er the plain,
With clash and clamor sweeps the broomstick train.
That startles midnight with its noonday blaze.
Through that same channel streams the giant force
That whirls the wheels along their clanking course
When, like a mail-clad monster o'er the plain,
With clash and clamor sweeps the broomstick train.
Whence gains the wondrous wire its two-fold dower,
Its double heritage of light and power?
Ask of the motor-man,—he ought to know,—
And he will tell you “from the dynamo.”
And what, again, the dynamo inspires?
“A mighty engine, urged by quickening fires.”
Its double heritage of light and power?
Ask of the motor-man,—he ought to know,—
And he will tell you “from the dynamo.”
And what, again, the dynamo inspires?
“A mighty engine, urged by quickening fires.”
When I behold that large, untiring brain
Which seventy winters have assailed in vain
Toiling, still toiling at its endless task,
With patience such as Sisyphus might ask,
To flood the paths of ignorance with light,
To speed the progress of the struggling right,
Its burning pulses borrowed from a heart
That claims in every grist a brother's part,
My lips repeat with reverence “Even so—
This is in truth a living Dynamo!”
Which seventy winters have assailed in vain
Toiling, still toiling at its endless task,
With patience such as Sisyphus might ask,
To flood the paths of ignorance with light,
367
Its burning pulses borrowed from a heart
That claims in every grist a brother's part,
My lips repeat with reverence “Even so—
This is in truth a living Dynamo!”
Be ours to heed its lessons while we may,
Look up for light to guide our devious way—
Look forward bravely, look not weakly back
The past is done with, mind the coming track;
Look in with searching eye and courage stout,
But when temptation comes look out! look out!
Look up for light to guide our devious way—
Look forward bravely, look not weakly back
The past is done with, mind the coming track;
Look in with searching eye and courage stout,
But when temptation comes look out! look out!
Heaven grant all blessings time and earth can give
To him whose life has taught us how to live
Till on the golden dial of the spheres
The twentieth century counts its gathering years,
While many a birthday tells its cheerful tale,
And the round hundredth shouts All hail! All hail!
To him whose life has taught us how to live
Till on the golden dial of the spheres
The twentieth century counts its gathering years,
While many a birthday tells its cheerful tale,
And the round hundredth shouts All hail! All hail!
| The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes | |