Explore "The Valley of Vain Verses (in Praise of Poets)" by Henry Van Dyke on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The grief that is but feigning, / And weeps melodious tears / Of delicate complaining / From self-indulgent years; / The mirth that is but madness, / And has no inward gladness / Beneath its laughter straining, / To capture thoughtless ears;
The love that is but passion / Of amber-scented lust; / The doubt that is but fashion; / The faith that has no trust; / These Thamyris disperses, / In the Valley of Vain Verses / Below the Mount Parnassian, -- / And they crumble into dust.