Praise to the End - Theodore Roethke

[notyourbroom.livejournal.com]

From the fourth section, proceeding to the end.

I believe! I believe!--
In the sparrow, happy on gravel;
In the winter-wasp, pulsing its wings in the sunlight;
I have been somewhere else; I remember the sea-faced uncles.
I hear, clearly, the heart of another singing,
Lighter than bells, softer than water.

Wherefore, O birds and small fish, surround me.
Lave me, ultimate waters.
The dark showed me a face.
My ghosts are all gay.
The light becomes me.

Also, a quick question.

There was a poem posted in here at least a year or two ago that I can't seem to track down. I remember neither the author nor the title; I only remember the basic premise of the poem, and while I think I can vaguelly recall a few lines, google hasn't been of any help in finding the original work.

Essentially, the piece urges the reader to remain steadfast in his or her beliefs, even if doing so would be hopeless or unpopular. Toward the end, there's a metaphor which compares standing up for an ideal (or attacking a false ideal) to an individual assailing a fortification. The very end of the poem has a few lines that go something like "When the gates of folly fall / Let them find you by the wall."

Again, Google didn't pick up anything when I tried searching, so maybe my memory is flawed?

But if this rings a bell with anyone, I'd appreciate any help in identifying what the original poem was.

Comments

What you are looking for..

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

..is this:

The Last Word
by Matthew Arnold

Creep into thy narrow bed,
Creep, and let no more be said!
Vain thy onset! all stands fast.
Thou thyself must break at last!

Let the long contention cease!
Geese are swans, and swans are geese.
Let them have it how they will!
Thou art tired; best be still!

They out-talked thee, hissed thee, tore thee.
Better men fared thus before thee;
Fired their ringing shot and passed,
Hotly charged -and sank at last.

Charge once more, then, and be dumb!
Let the victors, when they come,
When thy forts of folly fall,
Find thy body by the wall!

./w

Re: What you are looking for..

[notyourbroom.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes! Thank you. It's not quite the way I remembered it (which, given my complete failure in tracking it down myself, isn't surprising), but I'm glad you were able to connect my haphazard dots.

Re: What you are looking for..

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

Oh no problems. I hadn't read the poem before though; I am just good at googling, is all :)

Your user-pic is telling me a story.

./w