To Napoleon
By John Clare
The heroes of the present and the past Were puny, vague, and nothingness to thee: Thou didst a span grasp mighty to the last, And strain for glory when thy die was cast. That little island, on the Atlantic sea, Was but a dust-spot in a lake: thy mind Swept space as shoreless as eternity. Thy giant powers outstript this gaudy age Of heroes; and, as looking at the sun, So gazing on thy greatness, made men blind To merits, that had adoration won In olden times. The world was on thy page Of victories but a comma. Fame could find No parallel, thy greatness to presage.
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"The heroes of the present and the past..."
Exploring the themes of classic, John Clare delivers a powerful performance in "To Napoleon"... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...