Shine, Perishing Republic

While this America settles in the mould of its vulgarity, heavily thickening to empire

'And protest, only a bubble in the molten mass, pops and sighs out, and the mass hardens,

I sadly smiling remember that the flower fades to make fruit, the fruit rots to make earth.

Out of the mother; and through the spring exultances,

ripeness and decadence; and home to the mother.

You making haste haste on decay: not blameworthy;

life is good, be it stubbornly long or suddenly

A mortal splendor: meteors are not needed less than mountains: shine, perishing republic.

But for my children, I would have them keep their distance from the thickening center;

corruption Never has been compulsory,

when the cities lie at the monster's feet there are left the mountains.

And boys, be in nothing so moderate as in love of man,

a clever servant, insufferable master.

There is the trap that catches noblest spirits,

hat caught--they say-- God, when he walked on earth.

"Shine, Perishing Republic" by Robinson Jeffers