THE Priest of Beauty, the Anointed One,
Through the wide world passes the Poet on.
All that is noble by his word is crown'd,
But on his brow th' Acanthus wreath is bound.
Eternal temples rise beneath his hand,
While his own griefs are written in the sand;
He plants the blooming gardens, trails the vine—
But others wear the flowers, drink the wine;
He plunges in the depths of life to seek
Rich joys for other hearts—his own may break.
Like the poor diver beneath Indian skies,
He flings the pearl upon the shore—and dies.
About This Book
The collection gathers lyrical and narrative poems that blend political passion, religious reflection, and romantic and mythic storytelling. Many pieces mourn famine and social injustice, portray martyrdom and national aspiration, and offer exhortations and supplications on behalf of the homeland. Other poems translate or adapt European sagas, medieval romances, and devotional hymns, while shorter lyrics record love, loss, memory, and spiritual longing. The volume alternates rousing public verse with intimate personal pieces, moving between direct civic address, elegiac lament, narrative ballad, and contemplative lyric, unified by moral intensity and rhetorical richness.