A Bard’s Dream
A hope is born, another dies,
As seems fit for dreamy eyes;
Life’s voyage teaches a lesson
Of modesty in bearing
Till honestly declaring,
A sailor looks up and cries,
“O shapeless clouds,
Unruly as nature!
So akin to my fate,
‘Nature loves to hide.’
‘The sun is new everyday.’
Horror! Horror!
Such horrible void!
I am heading nowhere!
But wait!
What do I see?
The clouds take shape
A ghost? An ape?
It’s Pallas Athene!”
“Yes, my child,
Do not despair;
You have found
The ever-changing truth!
Catch a wisp of your fire,
Let it turn in godlike flare
Pensive odes for my ears,
Sing to your lyre
With beauty such as move to tears;
Let joy arise from the mire,
At playfulness don’t jeer;
More order and harmony in your strife,
This shall be your life.”
