Classic Poem

Loquitur Genius Loci

Cloister'd vault of living rocks,
Here have I my darksome dwelling;
Working sing to stones and stocks,
Where, beneath, my waves go welling.

Beams flood-borne athwart me cast,
Arches, see, and aisles moist-gleaming!
Sounds for ay my organ-blast:
Grim Cathedral shaped in Dreaming!

Once a Lake, and next a Linn,
Still my Course sinks deeper boring;
Cleft far up, where light steals in,
That as " Gullet " once was roaring.

For three thousand years or more,
Savage I, none praised or blamed me: —
Maiden's hand unbolts my Door;
Look of Loveliness hath tamed me.

Maiden mild! This levell'd Path
Emblem is of her bright being;
Long thro' Discord, Darkness, Scath,
Goes she helping, ruling, freeing.

Thank her, Wand'rer, as thou now
Gazest safe thro' gloom so dreary:
Rough things plain make likewise thou,
And of well-doing be not weary.

" Gullet " one day Cleft shall be,
Crichope Cave have new sunk-story;
Thousand years away shall flee:
Flees not Goodness or its glory.