The Death of Œnone, and Other Poems

Poets and Critics

Alfred Tennyson

THIS thing, that thing is the rage,
Helter-skelter runs the age;
Minds on this round earth of ours
Vary like the leaves and flowers,
    Fashion’d after certain laws;
Sing thou low or loud or sweet,
All at all points thou canst not meet,
    Some will pass and some will pause.

What is true at last will tell:
Few at first will place thee well;
Some too low would have thee shine,
Some too high—no fault of thine—
    Hold thine own, and work thy will!
Year will graze the heel of year,
But seldom comes the poet here,
    And the Critic’s rarer still.

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