Sonnet II

Forget all these, the barren fool in power,

The madman in command, the jealous O,

The bitter world, biting its bitter hour,

The cruel now, the happy long ago.

Forget all these, for, though they truly hurt,

Even to the soul, they are not lasting things,

Men are no gods, men tread the city dirt,

But in our souls we can be queens and kings.

And I, O Beauty, O divine white wonder,

On whom my dull eyes, blind to all else, peer,

Have you for peace, that not the whole war's thunder,

Nor the world's hate, can threat or take from here.

So you remain, though all man's passionate seas

Roar their blind tides, I can forget all these.