The Unconquered Air, and Other Poems. Florence Earle Coates
a narrow window
the summer-time is in the rose
to r. r. on rereading the "de profundis" of oscar wilde
eagles—gibert's battle for the air
against the gate of life—to helen keller
the unconquered air
For other versions of this work, see The Unconquered Air (Coates).
POEMS
THE UNCONQUERED AIR
I
Others endure Man's rule: he therefore deems
I shall endure it—I, the unconquered Air!
Imagines this triumphant strength may bear
His paltry sway! yea, ignorantly dreams,
Because proud Rhea now his vassal seems,
And Neptune him obeys in billowy lair,
That he a more sublime assault may dare,
Where blown by tempest wild the vulture screams!
Presumptuous, he mounts: I toss his bones
Back from the height supernal he has braved:
Ay, as his vessel nears my perilous zones,
I blow the cockle-shell away like chaff
And give him to the Sea he has enslaved.
He founders in its depths; and then I laugh!
II
Impregnable I held myself, secure
Against intrusion. Who can measure Man?
How should I guess his mortal will outran
Defeat so far that danger could allure
For its own sake?—that he would all endure,
All sacrifice, all suffer, rather than
Forego the daring dreams Olympian
That prophesy to him of victory sure?
Ah, tameless courage!—dominating power
That, all attempting, in a deathless hour
Made earth-born Titans godlike, in revolt!—
Fear is the fire that melts Icarian wings:
Who fears nor Fate, nor Time, nor what Time brings,
May drive Apollo's steeds, or wield the thunderbolt!
why did you go ?
For other versions of this work, see Why Did You Go (Coates).
WHY DID YOU GO?
Death called—but why did you go?
Did you not know
That life is better than death,
That snatches the breath
Out of joy?—that love is better than death?
Did you not understand
How guarded the Land
Where death leads?—that howe'er the heart yearn,
One can never return
From the gloom
Of that dwelling-place lone that doth hold and entomb?
O my sweet!
Might I follow your feet—
Afar from the sun and the bloom-scented air,
I would open once more
The inexorable door,
And drink of dark Lethe, your prison to share!
ode to silence
For other versions of this work, see Ode to Silence.
ODE TO SILENCE