The Use of a Poet

A thousand thoughts were stirring in my mind,
That strove in vain to fashion utterance meet,
And each the other cross'd — swift as a fleet
Of April clouds, perplexed by gusts of wind,
That veer, and veer, around, before, behind.
Now History pointed to the customed beat,
Now Fancy's clue unravelling, led their feet
Through mazes manifold, and quaintly twined.
So were they straying — so had ever stray'd ;
Had not the wiser poets of the past
The vivid chart of human life display

And taught the laws that regulate the blast,
Wedding wild impulse to calm forms of beauty, -
And making peace 'twixt liberty and duty.