God knows the burdened soul's dark sorrowing When hearts are sadly pregnant with old fears. God knows the labour that it is to bring The child of laughter from the womb of tears. And oh, life's tempered joy, cold, bitter band, Sorrow embowered in bright pleasure's wreath, Heart's passion, quickened by love's fiery breath, Heart's hope, denied by fate's despoiling hand; The golden vision of God's shining face Mid halting steps and body's shambling dress— All this the travail and the bitterness, The gall that sours the spirit's wonted grace. And must the body bear the blood-writ scroll To wake the murmurs of th' immortal soul? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE POET; SONNET by AMY LOWELL GOD'S GARDEN by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON DREAM SONG: 2 by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR GULF-WEED by CORNELIUS GEORGE FENNER EPITAPH UPON A CHILD THAT DIED by ROBERT HERRICK OF A WINNOWER OF WHEAT TO THE WINDS by JOACHIM DU BELLAY BRITANNIA'S PASTORALS: BOOK 3. THE SECOND SONG by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |