Almost I feel the pulsebeat of the ages, Now swift, now slow, beneath my fingertips. The heartthrobs of the prophets and the sages Beat through these bindings; and my quick hand slips Old books from dusty shelves, in eager seeking For truths the flaming tongues of the ancients tell; For the words of wisdom that they still are speaking As clearly as an echoing silver bell. Here is the melody that lies forever At the deep heart of living; here we keep The accurate recorded discs that never Can be quite silenced, though their makers sleep The still deep sleep, so long as a seeker finds The indelible imprint of their moving minds.Grace Noll Crowell
About This Quote
This quote is a perfect example of the power of poetry and of words. The mind of the poet is the most powerful of all minds. It is capable of seeing through time and can see into the hearts and minds of people who have gone before. The mind of the poet knows that he has no more control over his words than any other person. This quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow shows that any idea worth having must always be fought for.
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