Been feeling torn lately … so I’ve been reflecting a lot on why that is … was almost ironic that during my introspection I recalled a passage from one of Melville’s old poems, I’ve transcribed the piece below in full … <\/p>\n
\n\r\n The Conflict of Convictions\r\n by Herman Melville\r\n\r\nOn starry heights\r\n A bugle wails the long recall;\r\nDerision stirs the deep abyss,\r\n Heaven's ominous silence over all.\r\nReturn, return, O eager Hope,\r\n And face man's latter fall.\r\nEvents, they make the dreamers quail;\r\nSatan's old age is strong and hale,\r\nA disciplined captain, gray in skill,\r\nAnd Raphael a white enthusiast still;\r\nDashed aims, at which Christ's martyrs pale,\r\nShall Mammon's slaves fulfill?\r\n\r\n (Dismantle the fort,\r\n Cut down the fleet--\r\n Battle no more shall be!\r\n While the fields for fight in \u00e6ons to come\r\n Congeal beneath the sea.)\r\n\r\nThe terrors of truth and dart of death\r\n To faith alike are vain;\r\nThough comets, gone a thousand years,\r\n Return again,\r\nPatient she stands--she can no more--\r\nAnd waits, nor heeds she waxes hoar.\r\n\r\n (At a stony gate,\r\n A statue of stone,\r\n Weed overgrown--\r\n Long 'twill wait!)\r\n\r\nBut God his former mind retains,\r\n Confirms his old decree;\r\nThe generations are inured to pains,\r\n And strong Necessity\r\nSurges, and heaps Time's strand with wrecks.\r\n The People spread like a weedy grass,\r\n The thing they will they bring to pass,\r\nAnd prosper to the apoplex.\r\nThe rout it herds around the heart,\r\n The ghost is yielded in the gloom;\r\nKings wag their heads--Now save thyself\r\n Who wouldst rebuild the world in bloom.\r\n\r\n (Tide-mark\r\n And top of the ages' strike,\r\n Verge where they called the world to come,\r\n The last advance of life--\r\n Ha ha, the rust on the Iron Dome!)\r\n\r\nNay, but revere the hid event;\r\n In the cloud a sword is girded on,\r\nI mark a twinkling in the tent\r\n Of Michael the warrior one.\r\nSenior wisdom suits not now,\r\nThe light is on the youthful brow.\r\n\r\n (Ay, in caves the miner see:\r\n His forehead bears a blinking light;\r\n Darkness so he feebly braves--\r\n A meagre wight!)\r\n\r\nBut He who rules is old--is old;\r\nAh! faith is warm, but heaven with age is cold.\r\n\r\n (Ho ho, ho ho,\r\n The cloistered doubt\r\n Of olden times\r\n Is blurted out!)\r\n\r\nThe Ancient of Days forever is young,\r\n Forever the scheme of Nature thrives;\r\nI know a wind in purpose strong--\r\n It spins against the way it drives.\r\nWhat if the gulfs their slimed foundations bare?\r\nSo deep must the stones be hurled\r\nWhereon the throes of ages rear\r\nThe final empire and the happier world.\r\n\r\n (The poor old Past,\r\n The Future's slave,\r\n She drudged through pain and crime\r\n To bring about the blissful Prime,\r\n Then--perished. There's a grave!)\r\n\r\n Power unanointed may come--\r\nDominion (unsought by the free)\r\n And the Iron Dome,\r\nStronger for stress and strain,\r\nFling her huge shadow athwart the main;\r\nBut the Founders' dream shall flee.\r\nAgee after age shall be\r\nAs age after age has been,\r\n(From man's changeless heart their way they win);\r\n\r\nAnd death be busy with all who strive--\r\nDeath, with silent negative.\r\n\r\n YEA, AND NAY--\r\n EACH HATH HIS SAY;\r\n BUT GOD HE KEEPS THE MIDDLE WAY.\r\n NONE WAS BY\r\n WHEN HE SPREAD THE SKY;\r\n WISDOM IS VAIN, AND PROPHESY.\r\n<\/pre>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Been feeling torn lately … so I’ve been reflecting a lot on why that is … was almost ironic that during my introspection I recalled a passage from one of Melville’s old poems, I’ve transcribed the piece below in full … Continue reading