PEACE! where art thou to be found? <br />Where, in all the spacious Round, <br />May thy Footsteps be pursu'd? <br />Where may thy calm Seats be view'd? <br />On some Mountain dost thou lie, <br />Serenely near the ambient Sky, <br />Smiling at the Clouds below, <br />Where rough Storms and Tempests grow? <br />Or, in some retired Plain, <br />Undisturb'd dost thou remain? <br />Where no angry Whirlwinds pass, <br />Where no Floods oppress the Grass. <br /> <br />High above, or deep below, <br />Fain I thy Retreat wou'd know. <br />Fain I thee alone wou'd find, <br />Balm to my o'er-weary'd Mind. <br />Since what here the World enjoys, <br />Or our Passions most employs, <br />Peace opposes, or destroys. <br />Pleasure's a tumultuous thing, <br />Busy still, and still on Wing; <br />Flying swift, from place to place, <br />Darting from each beauteous Face; <br />From each strongly mingled Bowl <br />Through th'inflam'd and restless Soul. <br />Sov'reign Pow'r who fondly craves, <br />But himself to Pomp enslaves; <br />Stands the Envy of Mankind, <br />Peace, in vain, attempts to find. <br />Thirst of Wealth no Quiet knows, <br />But near the Death-bed fiercer grows; <br />Wounding Men with secret Stings, <br />For Evils it on Others brings. <br />War who not discreetly shuns, <br />Thorough Life the Gauntlet runs. <br />Swords, and Pikes, and Waves, and Flames, <br />Each their Stroke against him aims. <br />Love (if such a thing there be) <br />Is all Despair, or Extasie. <br />Poetry's the feav'rish Fit, <br />Th' o'erflowing of unbounded Wit.<br /><br />Anne Kingsmill Finch<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/enquiry-after-peace/
