Classic Poem

New lands will bring new poets. By the streams
Of far Australia poets will be heard,
Choosing their similes from strange-fledged bird,—
Writing love-sonnets where blue water gleams
By banks of flowers more gorgeous than our dreams!—
In South America, or Mexico,
Or where the Indian feathery palm-fronds grow,
Song will awake,—and search out untried themes.

New Beatrices in those far-off lands
Shall thrill new Dantes into song as large:
When songless is our old grey ocean's marge,
Sonnets shall watch the moon from far-off sands;
And song shall find a new diviner bower
When the new hemisphere breaks into flower!