“Teach me the wisdom of thy beauty, pray,
That, being thus wise, I may aspire to see
What beauty is, whence, why, and in what way
Immortal, yet how mortal utterly:
For, shrinking loveliness, thy brow of day
Pleads plaintive as a prayer, anemone.
“Teach me wood-wisdom, I am petulant:
Thou hast the wildness of a Dryad’s eyes,
The shyness of an Oread’s, wild plant:–
Behold the bashful goddess where she lies
Distinctly delicate!–inhabitant
Ambrosial-earthed, star-cousin of the skies.
“Teach me thy wisdom, for, thro’ knowing, yet,
When I have drunk dull Lethe till each vein
Thuds full oblivion, I shall not forget;–
For beauty known is beauty; to sustain
Glad memories with life, while mad regret
And sorrow perish, being Lethe slain.”
“Teach thee my beauty being beautiful
And beauty wise?–My slight perfections, whole
As world, as man, in their creation full
As old a Power’s cogitation roll.
Teach thee?–Presumption! thought is young and dull–
Question thy God what God is, soul what soul.”
(Madison Julius Cawein)
More Poetry from Madison Julius Cawein:
Madison Julius Cawein Poems based on Topics: Beauty, Life, World, Soul, Mind, Man, Thought & Thinking, Wisdom & Knowledge, Prayers, Power, Immortality- One Day And Another: A Lyrical Eclogue - Part III (Madison Julius Cawein Poems)
- Accolon Of Gaul: Part III (Madison Julius Cawein Poems)
- One Day And Another: A Lyrical Eclogue - Part I (Madison Julius Cawein Poems)
- Accolon Of Gaul: Part I (Madison Julius Cawein Poems)
- Accolon Of Gaul: Part II (Madison Julius Cawein Poems)
- One Day And Another: A Lyrical Eclogue - Part II (Madison Julius Cawein Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, Life Poems, World Poems, Mind Poems, Soul Poems, Thought & Thinking Poems, Beauty Poems, Wisdom & Knowledge Poems, Power Poems, Prayers Poems, Education PoemsBased on Keywords: oread, inhabitant, shyness, thuds, cogitation