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ReadingWillow structured literacy program for Australian students
Poetry Library

— Stephen Crane

I stood upon a high place,

And saw, below, many devils

Running, leaping,

And carousing in sin.

…

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adjective

Engaged in or ready for action; characterized by energetic work, thought, or speech.

“The students were very active in class discussions, asking many thoughtful questions.”

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Sehnsucht

73 lines
Arthur Hugh Clough·1819–1861
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hence are ye, vague desires,Which carry men along,However proud and strong;Which, having ruled to-day,To-morrow pass away?Whence are ye, vague desires?Whence are ye? Which women, yielding to,Find still so good and true;So true, so good to-day,To-morrow gone away.Whence are ye, vague desires?Whence are ye? From seats of bliss above,Where angels sing of love;From subtle airs around,Or from the vulgar ground,Whence are ye, vague desires?Whence are ye? A message from the blest,Or bodily unrest;A call to heavenly good,A fever in the bloodWhat are ye, vague desires?What are ye? Which men who know you bestAre proof against the least,And rushing on to-day,To-morrow cast away.What are ye, vague desires?What are ye? Which women, ever new,Still warned, surrender to;Adored with you to-day,Then cast with you away,What are ye, vague desires?What are ye? Which unto boyhood’s heartThe force of man impart,And pass, and leave it cold,And prematurely old,What are ye, vague desires?What are ye? Which, tremblingly confest,Pour in the young girl’s breastJoy, joy, the like is none,And leave her then undone,What are ye, vague desires?What are ye? Ah yet! though man be marred,Ignoble made, and hard;Though broken women lieIn anguish down to die;Ah yet! ye vague desires,Ah yet! By Him who gave you birth,And blended you with earth,Was some good end designedFor man and womankind;Ah yet! ye vague desires,Ah yet! The petals of to-day,To-morrow fallen away,Shall something leave instead,To live when they are dead;When you, ye vague desires,Have vanished; A something to survive,Of you though it deriveApparent earthly birth,But of far other worthThan you, ye vague desires,Than you.
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