I will and yet I may not, The more it is my pain. What thing I will, I shall not. Wherefore my will is vain. Will willing is in vain, This may I right well see. Although my will would fain, My will it may not be. Because I will and may not, My will is not my own. For lack of will I cannot, The cause whereof I moan. Foy! that I will and cannot Yet still I do sustain! Between 'I will' and 'shall not' My love cannot obtain. Thus wishers wants their will And they that will do crave. But they that will not will Their will the soonest have. Since that I will and shall not, My will I will refrain. Thus, for to will and will not, Will willing is but vain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A TOCCATA OF GALUPPI'S by ROBERT BROWNING THE MARIPOSA LILY by INA DONNA COOLBRITH FOR THE BAPTIST by WILLIAM DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: RUTHERFORD MCDOWELL by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SONNET: 78 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE COMPOSED UPON WESTMINSTER BRIDGE, SEPTEMBER 3, 1802 by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH THE JEWISH MARTYRS by W. V. B. A POEM FOR THE SEFIROT AS WHEEL OF LIGHT by NAFTALI BACHARACH |