You'll wait a long, long time for anything much To happen in heaven beyond the floats of cloud And the Northern Lights that run like tingling nerves. The sun and moon get crossed, but they never touch, Nor strike out fire from each other nor crash out loud. The planets seem to interfere in their curves But nothing ever happens, no harm is done. We may as well go patiently on with our life, And look elsewhere than to stars and moon and sun For the shocks and changes we need to keep us sane. It is true the longest drouth will end in rain, The longest peace in China will end in strife. Still it wouldn't reward the watcher to stay awake In hopes of seeing the calm of heaven break On his particular time and personal sight. That calm seems certainly safe to last to-night. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THE MEMORY OF BEN JONSON by JOHN CLEVELAND THE MOURNING-GARMENT: THE SHEPHERD'S WIFE'S SONG by ROBERT GREENE THE GRAVES OF A HOUSEHOLD by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS WEEDS by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY THE BROKEN FIELD by SARA TEASDALE IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: 7 by ALFRED TENNYSON THE TROUBADOUR by HORTENSE DE BEAUHARNAIS |