Arts & Sciences

Art

by Herman Melville 1819–1891

From Timoleon (1891)

Arts & Sciences

In placid hours well-pleased we dream
Of many a brave unbodied scheme.
But form to lend, pulsed life create,
What unlike things must meet and mate:
A flame to melt—a wind to freeze;
Sad patience—joyous energies;
Humility—yet pride and scorn;
Instinct and study; love and hate;
Audacity—reverence. These must mate,
And fuse with Jacob’s mystic heart,
To wrestle with the angel—Art.

MLA

Melville, Herman. “Art.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/melville/98/.

Chicago

Melville, Herman. “Art.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/melville/98/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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