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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


DESPAIR by RICHARD SOLOMON GEDNEY

First Line: THOU WHO HAS SORROW
Last Line: LAID STILLY AND LOW!
Subject(s): DESPAIR;

THOU who has sorrow,
Thou who hast wept
In lonely anguish,
While others have slept;
Thou who has counted the night's solemn hours,
And seen thy hopes wither—as wither the flowers!
'Gainst whom Fate's arrow
Has ever been sent,
And the brow of misfortune
Has ever been bent,
Whose destiny is, that if sorrow and pain
Should leave thee one moment, 'tis but to regain
New life and fresh power
To crush thee yet lower.
And if Joy o'er thy grieving
Should chance to let fall
One ray from his pinion,
One gleam o'er the pall
Of woe that enshrouds thee,
That one ray of light
Departing, makes deeper
The gloom of thy night!
Oh! hopelessly grieve not;
Ere long shalt thou know
Surcease from all sorrow,
Release from all woe;
In Death's cold embracing
Laid stilly and low!



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