Reely's Poetry Blog

BY JEAN INGELOW (1820-1897)

UP to far Osteroe and Suderoe 
     The deep sea-floor lies strewn with Spanish wrecks,
O'er minted gold the fair-haired fishers go, 
     O'er sunken bravery of high carved decks.

In earlier days great Carthage suffered bale 
     (All her waste works choke under sandy shoals);
And reckless hands tore down the temple veil; 
     And Omar burned the Alexandrian rolls.
The Old World arts men suffered not to last, 
     Flung down they trampled lie and sunk from view,
He lets wild forest for these ages past 
     Grow over the lost cities of the New.

O for a life that shall not be refused 
To see the lost things found, and waste things used.