Shine Perishing Republic

 While this America settles in the mould of its vulgarity, heavily thickening 
 to empire
And protest, only a bubble in the molten mass, pops and sighs out, and the
 mass hardens,
I sadly smiling remember that the flower fades to make fruit, the fruit rots 
 to make earth.

Out of the mother; and through the spring exultances, ripeness and deca-
 dence; and home to the mother.


You making haste haste on decay: not blameworthy; life is good, be it stub-
 bornly long or suddenly
A mortal splendor: meteors are not needed less than mountains: 
 shine, perishing republic.

But for my children, I would have them keep their distance from the thick-
 ening center; corruption
Never has been compulsory, when the cities lie at the monster's feet there 
 are left the mountains.

And boys, be in nothing so moderate as in love of man, a clever servant, 
 insufferable master.

There is the trap that catches noblest spirits, that caught--they say--
 God, when he walked on earth.

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