Oh unforgotten! How long ago? one spirit saith: As long as life even unto death, The passage of a poor frail breath. Oh unforgotten: An unforgotten load of love, A load of grief all griefs above, A blank blank nest without its dove. As long as time is -- No longer? time is but a span The dalliance space of empty man; And is this all immortals can? -- Ever and ever, Beyond all time, beyond all space; -- @3Now@1, shadow darkening heart and face, -- @3Then@1, glory in a glorious place. Sad heart and spirit Bowed now yea broken for a while, Lagging and toiling mile by mile Yet pressing toward the eternal smile. Oh joy eternal! -- Oh youth eternal without flaw! -- Thee not the blessed angels saw Rapt in august adoring awe. Not the dead have thee, Not yet O all surpassing peace; Not till this veiling world shall cease And harvest yield its whole increase. Not the dead know thee, Not dead nor living nor unborn: Who in the new sown field at morn Can measure out the harvest corn? -- Yet they shall know thee; And we with them, and unborn men With us, shall know and have thee when The single grain shall wax to ten. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MANHATTAN, 1609 by EDWIN MARKHAM TO A MAN WORKING HIS WAY THROUGH THE CROWD by MARIANNE MOORE |