Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ASHRIDGE, by FREDERICK WILLIAM HENRY MYERS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ASHRIDGE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: On this great home if change must fall
Last Line: Unheard-of morning, mystic day.
Alternate Author Name(s): Myers, Frederic
Subject(s): Home


ON this great home if change must fall,
Let change itself come soft and fair;
Leave these cloud-feathery skies, and all
The abandonment of upland air;
Leave ancient forest, ancient lawn,
Historic ash-trees, beechen shade;
Still let the slanted shafts of dawn
Light the low fern from glade to glade.

No more the Churchmen, sad and slow,
Chaunt in dim dusk their crooning song;
Nor captive queen thro' lattice low
Views a wild realm of wrath and wrong:
To these Inheritors belong
A sure dominion, master art;
For moat and wall they choose the strong
Ascendant of the nobler heart.

And if sometimes that heart should quail,
Half doubtful of high task begun;
Beholding hallowed landmarks fail,
Dear hopes evanish one by one;—
Yet best shall lead who best have led;—
Those thro' our chaos surest steer
Whose fathers' bygone deeds have bred
Imperious Honour, flouting Fear.

"By her own strength can Virtue live?
Self-poised can Hope wide-winging soar?"
List! for our deepening age shall give
Some answer surer than of yore;—
Stand fast, high hearts, thro' woe and weal;
Watch thro' the night, if watch ye may;
Wait, till the rifted heavens reveal
Unheard-of morning, mystic day.





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