Shine, Perishing Republic - Robinson Jeffers

[Lawrence Robinson]

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, that caught—they say—God, when he 
	walked on earth.


	- Robinson Jeffers