Quote#Children
O ye by wandering tempest sown
Quote byWilliam Watson · 1858–1935
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Poems (1892), "England and Her Colonies", line 10; p. 61..
English (original)
O ye by wandering tempest sown Neath every alien star, Forget not whence the breath was blown That wafted you afar! For ye are still her ancient seed On younger soil let fall— Children of Britain’s island-breed, To whom the Mother in her need Perchance may one day call.
— William Watson
More from William Watson
God, by the earlier sceptic, was exiled; The later is more lenient grown and mild: He sanctions God, provided you agree To any other name for deity.
The Poet gathers fruit from every tree, Yea, grapes from thorns and figs from thistles he. Pluck'd by his hand, the basest weed that grows Towers to a lily, reddens to a rose.
Man looks at his own bliss, considers it, Weighs it with curious fingers; and 'tis gone.
April, April, Laugh thy girlish laughter; Then, the moment after, Weep thy girlish tears!
And, though circuitous and obscure, The feet of Nemesis how sure!
Flower-fondled, clasp'd in ivy's close caress, It seems with Nature, yet apart.