'CAN I know it?' -- 'Nay.' -- 'Shall I know it?' -- 'Yea, When all mists have cleared away For ever and aye.' -- 'Why not then to-day?' -- 'Who hath said thee nay? Lift a hopeful heart and pray In a humble way.' -- 'Other hearts are gay.' -- 'Ask not joy to-day: Toil to-day along thy way Keeping grudge at bay.' -- 'On a past May-day Flowers pranked all the way; Nightingales sang out their say On a night of May.' -- 'Dost thou covet May On an Autumn day? Foolish memory saith its say Of sweets past away.' -- 'Gone the bloom of May, Autumn beareth bay: Flowerless wreath for head grown grey Seemly were to-day.' -- 'Dost thou covet bay? Ask it not to-day: Rather for a palm-branch pray; None will say thee nay.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THE EVENING STAR by WILLIAM BLAKE A PRAYER FOR INDIFFERENCE by FRANCES (FANNY) MACARTNEY GREVILLE THE DIFFERENCE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE MAID VAR MY BRIDE by WILLIAM BARNES ROAD AND HILLS by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET PSALM 77 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |