Betwixt Two Seas Poems and Ballads (Written at Constantinople and Therapia). By Violet Fane [i.e. M. M. Lamb] |
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 | Betwixt Two Seas |  |
I
These beasts that “understand” not, that exist,
Draw breath, enjoy warm sunshine and cool breeze—
That might be free to wander at their ease
And mate, feed, fight, and slumber as they list;
What was the joy in living that they miss'd
Ere man imposed his pitiless decrees
On all poor sentient creatures, and of these
Made slaves and subjects even ere they wist?
Draw breath, enjoy warm sunshine and cool breeze—
That might be free to wander at their ease
And mate, feed, fight, and slumber as they list;
What was the joy in living that they miss'd
Ere man imposed his pitiless decrees
On all poor sentient creatures, and of these
Made slaves and subjects even ere they wist?
Nay, without hope of heav'n or fear of hell,
Knew they not all the fleeting joys we know,
These poor “brute beasts,” that mourn'd no overthrow
Of Hope or Love, nor felt Ambition swell
To die in dreams, or Faith, fantastic, glow,
And raised no gods of clay that broke or fell?
Knew they not all the fleeting joys we know,
These poor “brute beasts,” that mourn'd no overthrow
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To die in dreams, or Faith, fantastic, glow,
And raised no gods of clay that broke or fell?
| Betwixt Two Seas | |