METHINKS if sorrow's shadow fell Darkly upon my life, I would not struggle with the spell: 'Tis true, forgetfulness were well, But they who strive with thought can tell How vain, how sad the strife. Methinks that if I lost a friend, I would not seek to fill The vacant place, nor would I bend My strength to bid my mourning end, And Memory in the tomb descend, E'en would she work my will. But I my loss would so brood o'er, It should not seem to be, So should remembrance bring before Mine eye the loved one, so restore The friend, far off sometimes before, Then never far from me. Methinks I would not seek to hide The knowledge of a woe From mine own heart, though they may chide Who can do this, and turn aside Their thoughts, nor let in their stern pride Themselves their suffering know. But freely I hot tears would shed, Till I no more could weep, Would think how happiness had fled, Mourn till my heart I had wept dead, And sorrow that had bowed my head, For weariness must sleep. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...STREET WINDOW by CARL SANDBURG THE UNDERGRADUATE KILLED IN BATTLE; OXFORD, 1915 by GEORGE SANTAYANA A DIRGE (1) by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS TO A CHILD OF QUALITY, FIVE YEARS OLD. THE AUTHOR THAN FORTY by MATTHEW PRIOR MINIVER CHEEVY by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON |