What shall assuage the unforgotten pain And teach the unforgetful to forget? D. G. ROSSETTI. I TIRE of phantoms that my heart distrain, That claim their own, and will not let me rest, That mock me with old laughter, long-hushed jest, And of the love I promised once are fain. Shall I not seek some opiate for pain, And drug the ceaseless ache within my breast -- Bid Memory "Hence!" as an unwelcome guest, And smite the joyous chords of Life again? Nay! Then must I forbid the dead to speak, And do the holy past unholy wrong -- Disown its claim -- refuse to pay its debt -- All Heaven would look with scorn on one so weak! I choose, instead, to suffer and be strong -- Give me no Lethe! I will not forget. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IDYLLS OF THE KING: PELLEAS AND ETTARRE by ALFRED TENNYSON PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 40. AL-MUKIT by EDWIN ARNOLD SONNET: POOR LISA by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON VICISSITUDES by GAMALIEL BRADFORD A CANTO OF KHANS by BERTON BRALEY TO MISTRESS KATHERNE NEVILLE, ON HER GREEN SICKNESS by THOMAS CAREW THE CANTERBURY TALES: THE COOK'S PROLOGUE by GEOFFREY CHAUCER |