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Fin de siècle
TO THE YOUNG
by Adam Asnyk
The bright’ning flame of truth pursue,
Seek to discover ways no human knows.
With every secret now revealed to you
The soul of man expands within the new.
And God still bigger grows!
Although you may the flowers of myths remove,
Although you may the fab’lous dark disperse,
And tear the mist of fancy from above;
There’ll be no shortage of new things to love
Farther in the universe.
Each epoch has its special goals in store,
And soon forgets the dreams of older days.
So, bear the torch of learning in the fore,
And join the making of new eras’ lore.
The House of Future raise!
But trample not the altars of the past!
Although you will much finer domes erect.
The holy flames upon the stones still last,
And human love lives there and guards them fast.
And them is due respect!
Now with the world that vanishes from view,
Dragging down the perfect rainbow of delight,
Be gently reconciled by wisdom true.
Your stars, oh youthful conquerors, they, too,
Will fade into the night!
