Duress of pains and grievous smart Hath brought me low and wondrous weak That I cannot comfort my heart. Why sighest thou, heart, and will not break? Thy sighs, thy plaints are all in vain, The tears void that thine eyes do leak. This life is death, this joy is pain. Why sighest thou, heart, and will not break? Thou climbs to catch where is no hold. Thou strives where strength is all too weak. Thy careful life cannot be told. Why sighest thou, heart, and will not break? The faithfuller thou dost endure, Less she regards to hear thee speak And saith pity will not thee cure. Why sighest thou, heart, and will not break? As good thou wert asunder rive As thus in thought thyself to break. Better were death than thus alive Ever to sigh and never break. Wherefore, Pity, now show redress, Or else come, Death, thy vengeance wreak. And since thou finds no gentleness, Heart, sigh no more, I pray thee, break. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHEN WILL LOVE COME? by PAKENHAM THOMAS BEATTY THE LOST SHEEP by ELIZABETH CECILIA CLEPHANE ON THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST by WILLIAM DUNBAR THE SURPRISE AT TICONDEROGA [MAY 10, 1775] by MARY ANNA PHINNEY STANSBURY |