Poems (Jordan)/Influence
INFLUENCE
The spirit of a hidden flow'r;
The ambushed serpent's fetid breath;
The strength which overpowers pow'r,
And gives at will—or life, or death.
The ambushed serpent's fetid breath;
The strength which overpowers pow'r,
And gives at will—or life, or death.
Hindered, 'tis like a fresh-blown bud,
Upon a rudely broken stem;
A battle-ground unmarked with blood;
A king, who doffs his diadem.
Upon a rudely broken stem;
A battle-ground unmarked with blood;
A king, who doffs his diadem.
Her dwelling is the tenseless Life;
Her tools,—The silence of the deeps;
The statued soldier of a strife;
The face of childhood, as it sleeps,—
Her tools,—The silence of the deeps;
The statued soldier of a strife;
The face of childhood, as it sleeps,—
Or Change, or gray Monotony,
Or Feeling which hath tongued the heart;
Hope or Despair or Memory;—
She gives to each its self-earned part.
Or Feeling which hath tongued the heart;
Hope or Despair or Memory;—
She gives to each its self-earned part.
The influence of sacrifice
Doth reach away beyond our ken,
As smoke from burning flesh doth rise
Unholden by the will of men.
Doth reach away beyond our ken,
As smoke from burning flesh doth rise
Unholden by the will of men.
Though sweet, social communions be,
And varied viands the supply,
Influence enters stealthily,
The food to curse or sanctify.
And varied viands the supply,
Influence enters stealthily,
The food to curse or sanctify.