Prophecy

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

　　

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For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be; Saw the heaven fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails, Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales; Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and the rained a ghastly dew From the nation’s airy navies grappling in the central blue; Far along the world-wide whisper of the south-wind rushing warm, With the standards of the people plunging thro’ the thunderstorm; Till the war-drum throbb’d no longer, and the battle flags were furl’d In the Parliament of men, the Federation of the world. There the common sense of most shall hold a fretful realm in awe, And the kindly earth shall slumber, lapt in universal law.

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