'WHO but hails the sight with pleasure <br />When the wings of genius rise, <br />Their ability to measure <br />With great enterprise; <br />But in man was ne'er such daring <br />As yon Hawk exhibits, pairing <br />His brave spirit with the war in <br />The stormy skies! <br /> <br />'Mark him, how his power he uses, <br />Lays it by, at will resumes! <br />Mark, ere for his haunt he chooses <br />Clouds and utter glooms! <br />There, he wheels in downward mazes; <br />Sunward now his flight he raises, <br />Catches fire, as seems, and blazes <br />With uninjured plumes!'-- <br /> <br />ANSWER <br /> <br />'Stranger, 'tis no act of courage <br />Which aloft thou dost discern; <br />No bold 'bird' gone forth to forage <br />'Mid the tempest stern; <br />But such mockery as the nations <br />See, when public perturbations <br />Lift men from their native stations <br />Like yon TUFT OF FERN; <br /> <br />'Such it is; the aspiring creature <br />Soaring on undaunted wing, <br />(So you fancied) is by nature <br />A dull helpless thing, <br />Dry and withered, light and yellow;-- <br />'That' to be the tempest's fellow! <br />Wait--and you shall see how hollow <br />Its endeavouring!'<br /><br />William Wordsworth<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hint-from-the-mountains-for-certain-political-pretenders/
