Is it a Reed

Is it a Reed

CALAIS, August, 1802.

Is it a Reed that's shaken by the wind,
Or what is it that ye go forth to see?
Lords, Lawyers, Statesmen, Squires of low degree,
Men known, and men unknown, Sick, Lame, and Blind,
Post forward all, like Creatures of one kind,
With first-fruit offerings crowd to bend the knee
In France, before the new-born Majesty.
'Tis ever thus. Ye Men of prostrate mind!
A seemly reverence may be paid to power;
But that's a loyal virtue, never sown
In haste, nor springing with a transient shower:
When truth, when sense, when liberty were flown
What hardship had it been to wait an hour?
Shame on you, feeble Heads, to slavery prone!

Content of Is it a Reed [William Wordsworth's poems: Part The Second - Sonnets Dedicated To Liberty]

Read next: To a Friend, composed near Calais, on the Road leading to Ardres, August 7th, 1802

Read previous: Composed by the Sea-side, near Calais, August, 1802

Table of content of Part The Second - Sonnets Dedicated To Liberty


GO TO TOP OF SCREEN

Post your review
Your review will be placed after the table of content of this book