“The flaming forge of life” glowed red, as burning fire could be,
And restless workmen toiled to forge an immortality.
Like beating surf on rocky shore, the sea of passion roared,
Like meteor on a dusky sky Ambition flashed and soared.
Far out imagination flew, on restless wings of light,
And myriad strangest forms of thought glimmered in reason’s sight.
Religion and her goddess train their golden offerings poor,
The spirit of the wondrous past unfolds her wondrous store.
And fast and fierce the work goes on, furnace and forge and fire,
And busy hands, which ply the loom and weave the golden wire.