Blackberries :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Theologian, propping faith with lies;
The Savant, sifting natural mysteries,
Cold and irreverent; which of these is worse?
And must we chose between the two, perforce?
Nay, courage still! for nature and the soul
Are what they are, and not in men's control.

[By miracles these, and by mechanics those]

By miracles these, and by mechanics those,
Expound the Universe, which meantime goes
Quietly on its way—how, no man knows.

[Knowledge, exact and measurable, this]

Knowledge, exact and measurable, this
Is Science, and a precious thing, I wis;
Shape cunningly its formulas, to find
At will what once was found, and make each mind

Heir to the general wealth. We almost seem
Co-partners in the universal scheme
By giving clever names (which last awhile,
Till others cap them in a newer style)
Whereby we may distinguish this from that,
And hand-on what was given, and something more.
But now, arrange a System, round and pat,
A verbal microcosm: how huge a store
Of words and phrases needed to bridge o'er
The gaps and gulfs!—perchance to prove a snare,
And let the wariest pilgrim headlong fall.
Exactness, recollect: this wanting, there
No Science.
Scientific Friend, forbear
To talk so loud: thy knowledge is but small.
And were it multiplied a thousand fold,
Existence glows and pulsates,—it is cold.
Yea, analyse the rose's blush and breath,
Jot down in algebra the starry sky,
By crucible and scale test life and death;
Find, be it granted, all that thou hast sought:
Unless thou risest to poetic thought,
Thy wisdom's folly, and thy truth a lie.

Words, Words.

Of knowledge we so precious hold
Great part is mocking elfin-gold;
Spells of similitude and phrase
What mists of glamour can ye raise!

Artist v. Scientist.

“All the blue of the sky in your carpet-bag?—tush!
Don't I carry it all on the tip of my brush?
There—atoms of dust! Here—visions of glory!
I mean, you don't tell us the whole of the story.”

[Divide, combine, search, sift, and pry]

Divide, combine, search, sift, and pry;
Retort and microscope apply;
Light, Sound, Electric Force, explain;
The Earth, the Sun, the Blood, the Brain,
All's thus and thus. But now declare
Why things are right, and things are fair;
What's Duty? Beauty? tell us whence
Are Love, Truth, Hope, and Reverence?
But stay!—hast thou this last? If not,
Though thou could'st make the cold sea hot,
In flying chariot Sirius reach,
Full little could'st thou learn or teach.

[Some have spent their money in seeking Philosopher's Stone]

Some have spent their money in seeking Philosopher's Stone;
Some have wasted their life in quest of Elixir Vitæ:
Thou demandest the basis of morals, virtue, and faith,
Searchest much for thy Soul,—beware lest in search thou consume it.

[How man's high thoughts and aspirations came]

How man's high thoughts and aspirations came,
Guess this—guess that—still they remain the same.

[God's banish'd from the Universe, they say]

God's banish'd from the Universe, they say;
A change of wind has blown Him quite away;
Men have deposed Him. This may be—in case
It was by men's consent He held His place.

[You may sketch the world of what shape you please]

You may sketch the world of what shape you please,
But the Lord will not alter His lines for these.

[“Man's tongue can utter everything:” O fool!]

“Man's tongue can utter everything:” O fool!
“His mind think everything:” Go back to school!
A short way doth our subtlest thinking reach;
Shorter, our finest artifice of speech.

[The eyes of Modern Science do not grow]

The eyes of Modern Science do not grow
In the head, but hind-parts, and still gaze below.

[What can you tell us of Life? you live in the Cavern of Death.]

What can you tell us of Life? you live in the Cavern of Death.
Your voice is a hollow echo; a polar wind your breath.
Life, the potent, the loving, colour-flush'd, musical, gay,
Tell us the secret of this from your charnel-house?—away!

[Men try all fashions; “God made Man,”]

Men try all fashions; “God made Man,”
They now reverse, and on this plan
Would scheme things out; but nothing can,
Save end at last where they began.

[“‘God’ is a foolish name. MAN, whom I worship, is true.]

“‘God’ is a foolish name. MAN, whom I worship, is true.
I see in the depths of the past MAN'S great and reverend shape;
In the present and future, MAN, ever mounting to new
Mathematical Pisgahs.” Why, Man was a filthy ape

In the depth of the past; the present, Professor, gives us you;
The future, a higher power of the like. O Heavens and Earth!
To what parasitical spawn can vanity's brain give birth!
A brain-louse set in a shrine and worshipt!—What should we do
Were the Heavens and Earth indeed like this, but yawn and escape?

[“I don't believe in either God or Man.]

“I don't believe in either God or Man.
Conscious Automata, we nothing can,
Save as our atoms feel tyrannic chance;
For all's heredity and circumstance.
Conscience,—Freewill,—absurd! And if you ask
How on these terms fulfil life's daily task?
What motives? And what conduct?—look at me:
One more respectable you'll scarcely see,
As family man, friend, citizen, professor.
Be you, or public judgment, my assessor.”

“Good, my dear Sir!—but we must wait, I doubt,
To notice how your grandchildren turn out,

Born in the doctrine, reared upon the plan,
Of total disbelief in God and man.
Let this experiment be fairly made,
Nor Science mourn, by Her high priests betray'd;
Oh, let her teach them, from their tenderest youth,
The Truth, the whole Truth, nothing but the Truth—
Material Atoms, and Mechanic Force;
And send the boys and girls rejoicing on their course!”

[This World has no moral or meaning: the kaleidoscope of Man's Mind]

This World has no moral or meaning: the kaleidoscope of Man's Mind,
Turns it to seeming shapes,—a toy itself as we find;
For there's nothing, not even ourselves, that we cannot get behind.

Man is a beast, a machine; God is a dream, a name.
Yet, keep your lofty ideals and trust to them, all the same:
Or shoot yourself if you like: what matter is praise or blame?

[“Man's a machine.” Well, if we ever can]

“Man's a machine.” Well, if we ever can
Construct one bit by bit on some new plan,
Be sure 'twill be a Scientific Man.

[Less virtuous than they might and ought to be]

Less virtuous than they might and ought to be
I used to think us Men. But now I see,
By your light, in their share of purity
Trust, patience, courage, truth, unselfishness,
A wondrous and ridiculous excess.
What solemn fools these tailless monkeys are
Themselves of any pleasure to debar,
Or suffer any pain that they can shun!
Mere self-conceit when all is said and done;
Choosing gold fetters, to prove choice is free!

[The Age of Poetry is gone]

The Age of Poetry is gone,
The Age of Suicide sweeps on;
Pray Heav'n it pass, tornado-wise,
And leave behind it clearer skies!

[How Man is like to Ape we have now heard enough and to spare]

How Man is like to Ape we have now heard enough and to spare;
How Man is unlike Ape is better worthy our care.
All that proves us animal, let us not fear to scan;
Then hopefully, heartily turn to all that makes us man.

Two Gulfs.

From Matter to Life a bridge to find,
And then a bridge from Life to Mind:
“Too hard,” says Reason. Then let us try
Imagination—spread wings and fly.
“This ether is too thin, alas!
I flutter, I fall, I cannot pass.”

[What if “Nature” be so finely wrought]

What if “Nature” be so finely wrought,
She is subtler than our subtlest thought,
Grander than our best imagining:
Is not Nature then a marvellous thing?
Wherein we too have our part and lot
Of a surety neither low nor small.

What if something in ourselves be found
Finer, larger yet than all around,
And whereby alone we see it all?

[Facts bear analysis and tabulation]

Facts bear analysis and tabulation,
And truth is found by ratiocination.
Reality's our element; we make
Sure way; and into our possession take
New facts, acquired by conquering Intellect.
All facts are precious; none should we neglect.
Agreed. Nor count less precious than the rest
Love, Poesy, and Conscience,—though they be
Imponderable, nay, a deal too fine
For chemic or for mathematic test.
Into the sea of truth, the mighty sea,
How far as yet goes man's best plummet-line?

To a Famous Man.

Magic is out of date: and yet one day
You wrote five lines which have had power to slay
Many (alas!) by their own desperate hands,

With bullet, poison, water, knife or rope,
And will slay thousands more in many lands.
With false authority you took away

From striving human souls all trust and hope.
False—for you are no master in these things;
The Genius guiding you is bare of wings.

[Well, God in mind of man once held at least]

Well, God in mind of man once held at least
Great show of presence. If poor man's a beast,
In some strange way the wretch hath noble dreams;
Sage, lover, poet, hero, saint, he seems,
Spells mystic meanings in the earth and skies,
Lives, dreams of Heav'n, and, like an insect, dies.

[“I look for God, no God can see.”]

“I look for God, no God can see.”
Is there a godly soul in thee?
The little things of sight and sound
Are by their proper senses found.
Thus God is felt, not otherwise.
Wouldest thou search for Him with eyes?
By help of logarithms explain Him?
Or draw a circle to contain Him?
What kind of God were He, my friend,
That you and I could comprehend.

[Adventurous Spirit, trying every road]

Adventurous Spirit, trying every road,
You'll find you come to nothing, or to GOD.

[Army of Science! ever marching]

Army of Science! ever marching,
All the roads of nature searching,
Conquering ignorance, knowledge winning,
Every end a new beginning,
Fearless and unselfish fighters,
Dragon-tamers, python-smiters,
Deadlier minimi pursuing
In their ambush out of viewing,
Ev'n the subtle realm of ether
Not beyond you altogether,—
Stop! Behold a sacred border
Which you pass not: else disorder
Falls upon your troops, and madness.
See to it, leaders. But, with gladness,
Simple souls walk freely there
And breathe on earth celestial air.