A drop in Ocean’s boundless tide, unfathom’d waste of agony;
Where millions live their horrid lives by making other millions die.

How with a heart that would through love to Universal Love aspire,
Man woos infernal chance to smite, as Min’arets draw the Thunder-fire.

How Earth on Earth builds tow’er and wall, to crumble at a touch of Time;
How Earth on Earth from Shînar-plain the heights of Heaven fain would climb.

How short this Life, how long withal; how false its weal, how true its woes,
This fever-fit with paroxysms to mark its opening and its close.

Ah! gay the day with shine of sun, and bright the breeze, and blithe the throng
Met on the River-bank to play, when I was young, when I was young: