Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE GOOD MAN IN HELL, by EDWIN MUIR Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: If a good man were ever housed in hell Subject(s): Hate | ||||||||
If a good man were ever housed in Hell By needful error of the qualities, Perhaps to prove the rule or shame the devil, Or speak the truth only a stranger sees, Would he, surrendering quick to obvious hate, Fill half eternity with cries and tears, Or watch beside Hell's little wicket gate In patience for the first ten thousand years, Feeling the curse climb slowly to his throat That, uttered, dooms him to rescindless ill, Forcing his praying tongue to run by rote, Eternity entire before him still? Would he at last, grown faithful in his station, Kindle a little hope in hopeless Hell, And sow among the damned doubts of damnation, Since here someone could live, and live well? One doubt of evil would bring down such a grace, Open such a gate, and Eden could enter in, Hell be a place like any other place, And love and hate and life and death begin. Look at it well. This was the good town once, Known everywhere, with streets of friendly neighbours, Street friend to street and house to house. In summer All day the doors stood open; lock and key Were quaint antiquities fit for museums With gyves and rusty chains. The ivy grew From post to post across the prison door. The yard behind was sweet with grass and flowers. A place where grave philosophers loved to walk. Old Time that promises and keeps his promise Was our sole lord indulgent and severe, Who gave and took away with gradual hand That never hurried, never tarried, still Adding, subtracting. These our houses had Long fallen into decay but that we knew Kindness and courage can repair time's faults, And serving him breeds patience and courtesy In us, light sojourners and passing subjects. There is a virtue in tranquillity That makes all fitting, childhood and youth and age, Each in its place. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE THE WILD SWAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS HATRED by GWENDOLYN B. BENNETT TO AN ENEMY by MAXWELL BODENHEIM JACK ROSE by MAXWELL BODENHEIM THE PEOPLE OF THE OTHER VILLAGE by THOMAS LUX IN STRANGE EVENTS by WILLIAM MEREDITH LINES FOR A CHRISTMAS CARD by HILAIRE BELLOC |
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