ANGEL of joy, know you the agony, The shame, remorse, sobs, sorrows infinite, And the vague terrors of appalling night, Which do the heart as crumpled paper try? Angel of joy, know you the agony? Angel of goodness, do you know the hate The hands in darkness clenched, the tears of gall, When vengeance utters its infernal call, And o'er each thought rules in despotic state? Angel of goodness, do you know the hate? Angel of health, know you the fever fits Which round wan hospitals' high precincts go, As exiled wretches, with weak steps and slow, Seek for the sun with lip that gapes and splits? Angel of health, know you the fever fits? Angel of beauty, know you scar and line, And fear of hideous age, the poignant pain Of loathing, which love strives to hide in vain, In eyes, whence ours long time drank joys divine? Angel of beauty, know you scar and line? Angel of happiness, of joy and light, David when dying would for health have prayed, By effluence from your heavenly form conveyed; I nought, bright angel, save your prayers invite, Angel of happiness, of joy and light. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHAT I LIVE FOR by GEORGE LINNAEUS BANKS MARY MAGDALENE by GEORGE HERBERT NATURE; SONNET by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE LAND O' THE LEAL by CAROLINA OLIPHANT NAIRNE A BETTER ANSWER (TO CHLOE JEALOUS) by MATTHEW PRIOR A GENTLE ECHO ON WOMAN (IN THE DORIC MANNER) by JONATHAN SWIFT THE LORD SPEAKS by KARLE WILSON BAKER THE JACKET OF GREY by CAROLINE AUGUSTA BALL SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 31. A QUESTION by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |