Dramatic Scenes With Other Poems, Now First Printed. By Barry Cornwall [i.e. Bryan Waller Procter]. Illustrated |
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VAGUE WISHES. |
 | Dramatic Scenes |  |
388
VAGUE WISHES.
I aspire!
Unto that which hath no shape;
Unto that which hath no sound;
High,—higher,—higher,
I ascend! I quit the ground,
The human earth where hearts abound;
Swifter than the Lightning's fire
I aspire!
Past the high clouds floating 'round,
Where the eagle is not found,
Past the million-starry choir
I aspire,
Unto some sublime Desire!
Unto that which hath no shape;
Unto that which hath no sound;
High,—higher,—higher,
I ascend! I quit the ground,
The human earth where hearts abound;
Swifter than the Lightning's fire
I aspire!
Past the high clouds floating 'round,
Where the eagle is not found,
Past the million-starry choir
I aspire,
Unto some sublime Desire!
Wondrous Visions o'er me bend!
From the love of worth and beauty,
From the trust that marks a friend,
To the highest heights of Duty
I ascend!
Not for poor or selfish end,
Poet's crown, Pontiff's tiar,
I aspire!
Through the mist of foul opinions,
Flaming passions, sensual mire,
To the Mind's serene dominions
I aspire!
From the love of worth and beauty,
From the trust that marks a friend,
To the highest heights of Duty
I ascend!
389
Poet's crown, Pontiff's tiar,
I aspire!
Through the mist of foul opinions,
Flaming passions, sensual mire,
To the Mind's serene dominions
I aspire!
I aspire!
Dread or doubt shall never haunt
The music of my wingèd lyre;
Nothing shall my Spirit daunt,
Not the strength, not the ire,
Not the diabolic vaunt
Of the Phantom vague and gaunt,
Who with eyes of fatal fire,
And his quiver of arrows dire,
Scares the world: Death, avaunt!
Know that even beyond the strife
Of Love and Hate, of Death and Life,
Higher ever,—ever higher,
I aspire!
Dread or doubt shall never haunt
The music of my wingèd lyre;
Nothing shall my Spirit daunt,
Not the strength, not the ire,
Not the diabolic vaunt
Of the Phantom vague and gaunt,
Who with eyes of fatal fire,
And his quiver of arrows dire,
Scares the world: Death, avaunt!
Know that even beyond the strife
Of Love and Hate, of Death and Life,
Higher ever,—ever higher,
I aspire!
| Dramatic Scenes | |